Selectmen's commendable evaluation of Paicos released
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

We need to rein Kevin in at times as he can become overly ambitious." - PACIOS' EVALUATION

Selectmen released their "commendable" evaluation of Town Administrator Kevin Paicos last week, after Paicos gave his approval for the release.

Board Chairman Mark Carlisle said the evaluation was completed before Paicos was deployed by the Army National Guard in July but said the selectmen did not have a chance to discuss it with him. Paicos has recently been in contact with Carlisle to approve the release of the evaluation.

"The holdup on releasing this is we didn't have a chance to sit down and go over it point by point," Carlisle said. "I had given it to him before he left but it was very hectic. ... He did go over it and let it loose.

"As Kevin was going to be deployed and we had numerous ongoing projects, we decided the best thing to do was to use this evaluation from the (Massachusetts Municipal Association)," Carlisle said. "In the future, we plan on modifying this document to fit more of Ashburnham's criteria."

Each board member, individually, scored Paicos on 44 different statements on the standard Massachusetts evaluation form. Each board member rated Paicos with a score between one - unsatisfactory - to five - outstanding. Carlisle, as chairman, then tallied the scores for each line item and averaged them to get the final score.

The 44 items are divided into five subject matters. Those subject matters were relationships with the board, fiscal management, community and public relations, personnel administration, and professional skills and abilities.

Paicos received a commendable rating in each of the five subject matters and an overall commendable rating on the evaluation with a total score of 159.19 out of 220.

"Kevin brings a wealth and experience to the job and has excelled in creating unique solutions to unique problems. He has handled major projects very well. He handles subordinates well," reads the evaluation.

"Communication with the Board could be more thorough and timely, especially when it comes to pressing issues," according to the evaluation. "We need to rein Kevin in at times as he can become overly ambitious. Information needs to be given to the board with more warning as often times we are asked to make decisions on things we have yet to review. We would like to see all of us adhering closer to our town's by-laws. To take off some of the load we would like to see more delegation of financial planning, etc. given to the Advisory Board."

All three selectmen reviewed the scores and the written comments before the evaluation was released to Paicos and the public.

Carlisle said the board and Paicos will discuss the scores, Paicos' response and the future action items after Paicos' deployment ends.

"We will have that discussion when he gets back. He is going to have his own response to each one of those things," Carlisle said.

Paicos, who is deployed to the Middle East, was not available for comment. And he is expected to return in the summer of 2008.

"The board could provide a priority list of projects and limit the TA's workload," according to the evaluation. "That would help the TA focus on fewer projects. The Board could possibly get the TA more administrative help."

In the area of relationships with the board Paicos scored a 28.98 out of a possible 45.

In this area Paicos' lowest score was a two in under the statement of "maintains effective communication with the Board maintains mutual trust and treats all Board members equally."

His highest score is was a 4.33 in the area of "attend(s) all regular and special meetings of the Board, unless unavailable for reasonable cause."

In the area of fiscal management Paicos scored a 31.64 out of a possible 45.

His two lowest scores in this area were a 2.33 in "prepares and presents an annual capital outlay program for the ensuing five fiscal years," and a 2.66 in "submits an annual budget to the Finance Committee (Advisory Board) with sufficient supporting documentation and information to develop consensus with Town departments, the Finance Committee, the Board and Town Meeting."

In this area his highest score was a 4.66 in "prepares and presents an annual operating budget for the town."

In the area of Community and Public Relations he earned a 26.97 out of a possible 35.

Paicos' highest scores in this area were in "maintains on going liaison with state legislators," a 4.66, and in "is an effective spokesperson for the town," a 4.33. While his lowest score in this area was a three in "follows up on all problems and issues brought to TA's attention."

For personnel administration he earned a 35.97 out of a possible 45. He received high scores - 4.66 - in "encourages staff development" and "develops and executes sound personnel procedures and practices." But received a lower score in "annually, evaluates performance of staff," because two of the selectmen didn't feel like they had enough knowledge to score him in this area.

In professional skill and abilities he earned a 35.63 out of a possible 50.

In this area his lowest score was in "plans well in advance, but is adaptable to daily circumstances," in which he received a 2.66. He received his highest score, a 4.33, in three areas - "is progressive in attitude and action," "establishes appropriate course of action for self to accomplish a specific goal," and "maintains high standards of ethics, honesty and integrity in all matters" - for this area.

The selectmen used a 2004 evaluation form that was developed by the state organization to evaluate Paicos. This is the first official evaluation of Paicos in his two years in office.

"This was the first one. It just never got done (before)," Carlisle said. "It was one of those things."

Carlisle said Paicos' recent deployment was the motivating factor in finishing this evaluation.

"It is used as one aspect of whether you give him more money. It is part of the evaluation process," he said.