Nicole Parker emerged as a standout candidate for the CAO position with her demonstrated skills in various aspects of local government, including finance, strategic planning, zoning, and economic development. Her familiarity with grant writing and farming sustainability support positioned her as a resourceful candidate capable of addressing Southwick’s diverse needs. During her interview, Parker expressed a readiness to support the Select Board’s decisions, meet with staff and residents to understand community needs, and potentially relocate to Southwick if appointed. She articulated her approach to staff goal-setting, conflict resolution, and evaluation, underscoring her commitment to adhering to bylaws, policies, and board decisions.

Parker recounted a specific instance of conflict resolution involving employees and an elected board. Her consistent emphasis on understanding and fulfilling community needs resonated with the board members, who engaged her in a round-robin style interview. They probed her long-term goals, previous community involvement, and her strategies for assuming responsibility in the position. Parker’s responses displayed her commitment to meeting with staff and residents, engaging in the community, and supporting the board’s decisions.

The board’s deliberations on Parker’s candidacy included recognizing her impressive track record in securing grants and bringing fresh ideas from other communities. While Randy Brown, the Public Works director and another candidate for the CAO position, was praised for his dedication, personal connections to the town, and desire to improve operational efficiency, the board ultimately favored Parker’s external experience and fresh perspective.

The meeting also delved into strategic discussions about community growth and health, focusing on housing availability for all income levels, attracting young families with children, and increasing the impact of commercial or industrial development. The necessity of community-driven growth and responsible development was stressed, along with the need to align with community preferences. During these discussions, the board celebrated a community achievement—a $30 million loan and grant for a sewer upgrade project—underscoring the importance of collaboration with state and federal agencies for successful project management.

Transparency and accessibility were key themes, with proposals to increase public access to enterprise-wide document and project management systems. The Public Works director suggested recruiting individuals at community events and utilizing social media to engage the younger generation, emphasizing the importance of “injecting new blood” into town government and volunteer boards.

Furthermore, the board touched on the professional network and relationships at the regional and state level, highlighting routine interactions with other agencies and legislators, and the community’s need for better support from the state government. The Public Works director discussed his history of community involvement and the importance of continuing professional relationships, even in a potential new role.

The meeting concluded with procedural matters, including moving into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and collective bargaining strategies, a necessary step to protect the board’s bargaining and litigating position. The next steps involve sending a conditional offer to Parker, conducting a background review, and commencing negotiations for the terms of employment.