ATHOL – Town Manager Shaun Suhoski received glowing reviews in his last job evaluation from the town’s Selectboard at a recent meeting.
Based on a grading system of one to five, with five being the highest grade, the lowest grade he was given on any of five categories was 4.2. In all, Suhoski was graded across more than a dozen categories and finished with an overall average of 4.4.
“No one questions your quality of work,” said Chair Rebecca Bialecki, who briefed the other board members and the public on the evaluation. “You’ve done a great job for us, and I think, have been very forward-thinking and I think we all, as a board, appreciate that.”
Bialecki said Suhoski had earned a grade of 4.6 for productivity. Board members were asked on the evaluation form if Suhoski had produced a volume of work “at expected levels.”
“Yes, he certainly does,” said Bialecki. “Nobody could keep up with this town and everything that’s going on all the time.”
Suhoski was given a 4.6 for both knowledge of the job and adaptability, Bialecki continued.
“He had good experience when he came to us and I think he has also gained some really great experience going forward with us,” she said, adding that Suhoski demonstrated the ability to adapt to changing situations. “If he couldn’t do that he wouldn’t still be sitting here after more than 10 years.”
Suhoski was also given high marks for initiative/resourcefulness, exercising good judgment, and leadership ability, as well as for planning and organization, and communication skills. The town manager’s lowest grade, 4.2, came under the category of economic development.
Suhoski received his highest score, 4.8, under the category of budgetary/fiscal management. Bialecki told him he had been given excellent grades “because of your great ability to not only develop a budget but then to manage within it throughout the year, sometimes under very challenging circumstances.”
Bialecki noted there is room for some improvement.
“Shaun and I have worked on developing some goals,” she explained. “They include to be more proactive in personnel management. One solution is to meet independently with different department heads.”
To do so, she said, would allow the town manager to better anticipate issues that may arise. She also suggested Suhoski could more frequently attend meetings of the Economic Development and Industrial Commission and report back to the Selectboard.
Suhoski noted that over the nearly 12 years he has held the job, he has served with 14 or 15 different Selectboard members.
“The manager relies on the board to be thoughtful,” he said. “This town has been well served, and I appreciate that.”
“I just want to say,” board member Mitch Grosky said, directing his comment to Suhoski, “there are many people on many boards and many volunteers – some people are paid, some people are unpaid – but there are many people who are responsible for any success this town has had in the last decade and you are certainly foremost among those people, and I thank you for that.”
Suhoski told the Athol Daily News he also wanted to give credit to the town’s department managers and “all the staff that try their best to make the town thrive. The board’s scores truly reflect the people doing the actual hands-on work, and I’m very grateful.”