Hudson 'rezones' Town Hall duties

HUDSON – Officials here have authorized a reorganization of Town Hall that will create two new positions but eliminated the head of the community development department.

Selectmen last week approved a plan that eliminated Community Development Director Sean Sullivan’s position and calls for the hiring of a zoning administrator and assistant town administrator.

Sullivan oversaw the town’s planning, zoning building and health departments. He also essentially served as the town’s zoning administrator, Town Administrator Steve Malizia said.

The new plan will fold the engineering department into community development, all of which will report to the assistant town administrator. The zoning administrator will also take on the code enforcement duties, Malizia said.

Selectmen Chairman Ben Nadeau said the changes will “streamline” Town Hall and could save money.

Malizia said the assistant town administrator will likely make $60,000-$80,000 depending on the candidate, and the zoning administrator will make $50,000-$60,000.

Sullivan made $86,000, Malizia said. The former code enforcement officer Robert Sousa, who will be replaced by the zoning administrator, resigned this summer. He made about $47,000 in 2007, according to the town report.

Malizia said the moves put the community development department under a supervisor with more authority and removes the zoning administrator duties from the head of the community development department.

Nadeau said it was also important to the board to have some backup to Malizia. When he’s gone for some reason, including vacation or illness, the assistant town administrator will be able to pick up the slack, he said.