By Terry Date
Staff writer
May 09, 2008 05:55 am WINDHAM — Not enough money and too many responsibilities have led to high turnover in the town planner position. Today is Shaun Logue's last day working for the town after 18 months in the position. He is the fourth planner since the position was established about 1999, according to Planning Director Al Turner. But the chronic turnover is overshadowed right now by the shorthanded position the town finds itself in. Turner expects it will take two months to find a permanent replacement. In the meantime, something will have to give, whether it's investigating reported wetlands violations, answering questions from walk-ins at the planning office, or preparing applications for site review before the Planning Board. "Things aren't going to get done as fast," Turner said. The town planner/zoning administrator has a lot to do and Logue's absence will create a void, Turner said. The major function of the position is Planning Board administrator. That involves ushering applicants through the site review process, assisting with designs and scheduling hearings before the board. But the planner also investigates reports of site violations, such as wetland or road violations, and inspects sites to make sure they were built as designed and approved. The position also carries zoning administrator duties, including deciding if a project is appropriate for the zone. Selectmen's Chairman Dennis Senibaldi said the board has a fallback plan to lighten the Planning Department's load. The town may hire a temporary planner. Selectmen have directed the town administrator to price the cost of outsourcing planner duties to a private consulting firm. Ultimately, the selectmen also will study the planner turnover rate, Senibaldi said. "We'll try to figure why it's such a steppingstone (position)," he said. One reason is a planner's wide-ranging duties in Windham provides lots of experience and gives that person a leg up when jobs open up elsewhere, Turner said. "A planner in the town of Windham will get more experience faster than in any town I'm aware of," Turner said. "Nobody can compete with them." Planners with that level of experience can make more money elsewhere, he said. Logue said he will make a little more money in Massachusetts than he did here. He was hired by the Northern Middlesex Council of Government in Lowell. He said he took the new job because it will make him even more marketable, and because the new position is closer to his home. He said he thinks the reason Windham has seen a high turnover is the pay. The heavy workload he could handle. "I think they can do better," he said of the pay. The planner position is being advertised as paying $48,197 to $58,568, depending upon experience. Logue was paid $47,360 in 2007. Planning Board member Ruth-Ellen Post, a chairman under Logue's tenure, said she is concerned that the board could be without a regular planner's services for an extended period. But the town will weather the problem, she said. "It was a concern when we lost (the last planner), but the office got through the transition and we all survived," she said. Turner said Logue has grown in the position, and has really come into his own dealing with the major players in town.
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Photos
Shaun Logue Staff photo