000// Invitation to Qualified Candidat es INTRODUCTION The Town of Berlin, MA (pop. 3,400), is seeking a candidate experienced in all phases of small -town local government qualified to be the community’s third Town Administrator. The incumbent Administrator is moving on to another opportunity. Currently govern ed by a three -member Select Board, the town has recently voted to adopt an increase in the Board from three (3) to five (5) members , which will most likely become effective for the 2027 town election. Berlin operates under an open town meeting structure an d is governed in accordance with the Select Board and Town Administrator Act. The Town Administrator supervises, manages , and coordinates the day -to-day activities of all town departments and employees under the jurisdiction and policy guidance of the Select Board and acts as chief procurement officer, budget director , and human resources manager. The town has 41 FT employees, approximately 37 PT employees , and an operating budget for FY26 of $18,077,874. Berlin is part of a regional school district. Candidates should have a collaborative leadership style grounded in personal and professional integrity while managing local governance in a transparent manner. The candidate should possess excellent verbal and written skills while having the ability to utilize the latest technologies and relevant municipal applications. The town is a classic New England community with a rural heritage but has been aggressive in developing a strong commercial component at its bo rders. Route 62 runs through Berlin, which is also strategically located on the I -495 corridor, near I -90, I -290, and Route 2. Berlin is uniquely located to be an easy day trip to Boston or Worcester with all the educational, health, and cultural opportuni ties found in those cities, as well as within easy reach of all the New England states. Bachelor’s degree in a related field (master’s preferred), and at least five (5) years progressive municipal management and leadership experience, or relevant combinati on of experience and education. MCPPO certification or the ability to obtain this designation is a primary consideration for the successful candidate. Salary range of $150,000 -$175,000 will be offered commensurate with qualifications and experience. The community offers a competitive benefits package. The Town of Berlin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For further information potential candidates are directed to the Municipal Resources, Inc. website at www.mrigov.com/career or to contact Municipal Resources, Inc. at 603 -279-0352 ext. 330. To apply submit a resume and cover letter, in confidence, as a single PDF attachment to recruitment@mrigov.com by 8 AM (EDT) Monday, April 20th, 2026. THE TOWN OF BERLIN , MA TOWN ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT 2 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR – TOWN OF BERLIN , MA The Ideal Candidate will have the following characteristics and skill sets: A bachelor’s degree in a related field (master’s preferred ). At l east five (5) years of progressive municipal management and leadership experience, or relevant combination of education and experience with similar responsibilities i n a state/federal government, not for profit agency or higher education system. Knowledge of municipal law wi th demonstrated competency in budgetary and complex financial matters including procurement, MCPPO certification is highly desired as is a strong background in HR and with an emphasis on labor relation issues. Ability to be the lead negotiator in all collective bargaining sessions. Ability to work with limited personnel and financial resource s. A proven record of long -term financial management and strategic planning including the ability to manage public projects and develop creative and innovative funding scena rios for a sustainable CIP. An understanding of the small town budgetary process of engagement and participation of all affected parties. A leader who will embrace and enhance a strong working re lationship with the School Superintendent. A person who is passionate, clearly understands small town government and the important role played by committed volunteers who serve the Town in various ways. Someone who will be visible in the community . A creative thinker able to bring new perspectives and provide innovative solutions. An individual who will listen to varying points of view before determining a course of action. The ability to lead by example with a commitment to public service. The ability to bring independent staff, appointed and elected committees together in a collaborative approach to g overnment and overall transparency . A proven record of nurturing a positive culture bu ilt on mutual respect, teamwork and trust. Someone who will empower the dep artmen t managers and not micro -manage while holding all employees accountable for their responsibilities. A leader who will build a team through a collaborative effort of all affected parties. A demonstrated ability to provide guidance based in research and past experience without being dismissive of conflicting viewpoints. Someone who will be data and analytically driven when presenting options to the Select Board . Strong and confident public speaking an d presentation skills. Proficiency in social media to re ach the community and provide accurate and timely information. With limited resour ces, the experience to take a lead role and guide project s to ensure on time and on budget completion of all approved and funded initiatives. A leader who has the ability to encourage open dialogue, build trust and work collaboratively while still being decisive and with the ability and confidence to say “no” when necessary. The ability to provide responsive customer service to an engaged and participatory citizenry. The ability to recognize, embrace and support the passion of people who volunteer to serve their community working on committees, boards and civic organizations. 3 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR – TOWN OF BERLIN , MA THE COMMUNITY OVERVIEW Pursuant to the Town of Berlin ’s Select Board and Town Administrator Act approved on January 7, 2019 , the Town Administrator fills a vital professional role in balancing the varied goals and needs of this growing community. This will be the third Town Admin istrator for Berlin, and the Select Board seeks to continue the progress by enhancing and improving upon the work of establishing a supportive and accountable structure within the town ’s overall organization. The Town of Berlin is a classic New England town, primarily a residential community with significant well planned commercial segments at its borders. It has a strong sense of pride in its rural farming heritage. Route 62 runs through Berlin, which is strategically located on the I -495 cor ridor, near I -90, I - 290, and Route 2. In addition to being within easy reach of the New England states, Berlin has easy access to both Boston and Worcester , with all the educational, health, and cultural opportunities found in those cities. Berlin is b ordered by the Towns of Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Hudson, Northborough , and the City of Marlborough. While it is a quiet, bedroom community by night and vibrant by day with two major malls located at its borders , much of the town retains its agricultural and open space character , which is a source of pride for the majority of residents in the community. The town has a history of open space land conservation (over 1,300 acres preserved/protected) with a total landmass of 12.9 square miles and 42.21 miles of roads. There is no public water or sewer, and the town has no desire to expand access to these utilities in order to preserve its rural character. Effective July 1, 2019 , Berlin became part of the regionalized Berlin -Boylston Regional School District. The town is also a participant in a regional 911 dispatch center for public safety responses. The community is interested in exploring other regional cooperation agreements with neighboring communities to add efficiencies in delivering services. Additional government online information can be found in the 2024 Annual Town Report . 4 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR – TOWN OF BERLIN , MA Among its many accomplishments, Berlin has achieved the Commonwealth’s 10 percent affordable local housing threshold and , in fact , has approached 16+% of its housing stock as affordable , allowing the town to chart its own course relative to housing development and preserving undeveloped conservation land. As a further testament to the community’s commitment to progressive local government initiatives, the town achieved a Green Community d esignation in 2012. In addition, the adoption of the Community Preserva tion Act has allowed the town the opportunity to ensure the long -term protection of affordable housing and open space, historic preservation and r estoration of buildings within the community , like the Bullard House and the old Town Hall , as well as upgrades to recreation facilities. The Town Administrat or must have an understanding and affinity for these efforts, as they are key to the identity of Berlin. Recent developments include, but are not limited to , 55+ townhomes, single -family homes , and small subdivisions , which create new opportunities and challenges alike. The town has a robust history of negotiating favorable development agreements that are financially beneficial to the community a nd help support the increased dem and for services, especially within public safety departments that are directly impacted by development in the community. MUNICIPAL FINANCES The t own has a strong tax base , and in spite of its rural nature , it derives approximately 30% of its tax levy from the Commercial, Industrial , and Personal Property sector (CIP). Additionally, the community has a split tax rate, and the Select Board has adopted this policy for the past few years to help lessen the residential burden while maintaining sustainable exemplary service delive ry to the local taxpayers. The t own finances are well managed , as evidenced by the ample reserves, free cash , which was certified at $2.8M for ’26, the Community Preservation Fund has a balance of $2.3M , and over the past few years , the town has proactively created various stabilization account s totaling well over $2.8M for current and future needs. In addition, new growth for FY 26 was $240K. The leadership in the community continues to take pride in conservative revenue forecasting to build its annual budget and set the groundwork for a predictable and sustainable budget for the foreseeable future. Because of this conservative approach, the town has secured a very strong bond rating from S&P Global of AA+ / Stable. The Commonwealth’s Divisi on of Local Services issued a Financial Report (2021 ), and the town has begun to implement many of the financial policy recommendations contained in the docum ent. 5 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR – TOWN OF BERLIN , MA THE TOWN Berlin’s residential population ranges from multi -generational families to recent “nighttime only” working commuters. Town services encompass not only the expected wide range of government services to its permanent residents, but also a robust emergency response to large commercial malls and developments , and an interstate highway. Berlin has an engaged public with expectations of quality and responsive services. The Town Administrator will be expected to lead, direct, mentor, and motivate a caring and efficient professional team. The Administrator must seek to identify, understand, and help collaboratively guide the current vision of the community, and provide professional, technical, a nd management support to elected and appointed officials . Additionally the numerous volunteer boards and committees must also be supported by the admi nistration in their efforts to effectively deliver on the community’s high expectations. The ideal candidate must be a forward thinker who can anticipate and recognize future potential issues and, through the developme nt of strategic initiatives, work with staff and elected/app ointed officials to develop solutions . THE CHALLENGES A) As with many small towns, the issue of attrac ting and retaining staff for positions within the organization can be a challenge. The town has taken a proactive approach to this dilemma by recently engaging in a comprehensive Pay and Classification Study to ensure the town remains competitive in all areas of local government. This study will involve a review of all job descri ptions, staffing levels in departments , compensation , and job titles to help address some perceived inequities in the overall organizational structure. The town will be facing some key senior management openings over the next few years and seeks to help ensure its ability to attract and retain the best people to serve the community in these positions. The Administrator will also be working with a new Town Clerk who will be replacing a retiring Town Cler k in this spring’s Annual Town E lection. The town is currently working through some unsettled collective bargaining agreements , which will include a newly established Highway union. A major task for the new Town Administrator will be to help implement many of the suggestions by working with the employees, the union representatives , and the elected officials. Finally, the community will be welcoming a new School Superintendent this summer , and the Town Administrator will be tasked with building a strong relationship with this individual to help reinfo rce the strong partnership already in place between the Town and the School elected and appointed leaders. B) Because of the regional approach many small towns find advantageous and necessary , the new Administrator should be experienced in collaborating with other municipalities, state agencies, and 6 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR – TOWN OF BERLIN , MA regional and private entities to provide quality services in the most efficient manner possible. The t own has already engaged in regional efforts , including public safety dispatch services and Board of Health shared staff. Other opportunities that are under consideration could include inspectional services, planning/conservation staff , and technical professional services. Experience in nurturing and leading the discussion while also having the skills to bring people together with a goal of providing efficie nt and measurable success in regional cooperation will be expected of the new Town Administrator. C) For the past few years, t he t own has been engaged in a robust analysis of its Fire Dep artment operation and staffing requirements and more specifically whether moving to an ALS ambulance service would be beneficial to the community as it moves from a predominantly “Call Dep artmen t” for fire operations and EMS services at a Basic Life Support (BLS) level to more full time Department of firefighters /paramedics to help support the implementation of the ALS service component for the town . There is building support for this initiative within the t own. It is expected that an implementation schedule will be developed over the next couple of years. The Administrator will be expected to be very engaged with the Chief, elected officials , and all interested parties in this important discussion for the community. D) Growth and b udget sustainability will be an important issue for the next Town Administrator to address. Balancing smart development while listening to the majority of people in town who desire to retain the rural character of the community will be a significant challe nge for the new Administrator regarding the ability to balanc e the future ope rating budgets . This is especially true in Berlin, which depends heavily on taxes from the primary developments in town , such as the Highland Commons and the Solomo n Pond complex. Both these developments have been affected by the shifts in retail and commercial values . As evidence of this phenomenon, Solomon Pond Mall was recently sold for about a third of its assessed value! Tax revenues from new growth are at their lowest levels in many years . There are concerns in the community that some of the mitigation funds in development agreements signed with the town may be in jeopardy because of the changing nature of how these private sector developments will be sustained , and as the expected revenue sources diminish. Annual operating budg et pressures are exceeding the town’s ability to raise revenues, and in the future, a general override question will need to be posed to the electorate to sustain current services . E) The town will enter a new phase in 2027 when the Select Board moves from 3 to 5 members after a recent vote by the electorate to make this significant change. Going from 3 to 5 members of the executive branch of the local government brings with it challenges and opportunities for both the executive and the a dministrative branches of the government. The next Administrator will need to work closely with the Select Board to help refine the roles of each branch to comply with the governing 7 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR – TOWN OF BERLIN , MA bylaws of the community and the exis ting Select Board and Town Administrator Act. The community is taking a progressive step forward , and the Town Administrator will play a major role in guiding the success of this initiative. F) Project management and follow -through are critical areas of expertise for the next Town Administrator. With limited staff, the Administrator’s office is crucial in developing bid documents, follow through with state and federal agencies, project management, monitoring progress, project oversight, being accountable , and closing out public contracts. The town has an active list for projects , for the most part already funded and appro ved, and expect s the new Administrator to hit the ground running and compl eting projects like the Town Hall renovations, the Complete Streets Road program , and the South Street Bridge replacement , among a number of others. These projects are funded either through local funds or state and federal programs, and all have strict and timely reporting obligations. As previously stated, Berlin is an ideally located “commuter” town for the larger metropolitan areas and, therefore , growing in population, and yet many people choose to settle here with a strong desire to preserve its natural beauty and rural character. The recent updated Open Space and Recreation plan for 2020 highlighted this fact through its resident survey , which showed nearly 80% of all respondents agreed with preserving the rural character of Berlin and open space! This will be an important blueprint for the Town Administrator to use in addressing these challenges through collaboration with all stakeholders in the community and should be an important focus for the next Town Administrator. LINKS OF INTEREST • Select Board and Town Administrator Form of Government Act • 2024 Annual Town Report • About the Town of Berlin
