Nicholas Connors, one of three finalists for Swampscott’s town administrator role, said he would prioritize communication and collaboration with the Select Board, town employees, and residents if chosen.

“As information is available, we should be sharing it and identifying context,” Connors said. “I want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to engage folks…communicate what we can in different ways and in different channels…We have to use the traditional channels but also seek out informal groups.  We have to make sure citizens and residents understand and are comfortable with what we’re doing.  We’re the closest they get to any kind of government so we have to share our thinking and the context whenever possible and I will try to do that here.”

Connors, 46, currently serves as Milton’s assistant town administrator. He interviewed with the Select Board on August 12 at the high school.

During his interview introduction, Connors recalled his high school days at Bishop Fenwick, where he ran on the cross country team.

“We had an end-of-summer road race that started near Monument Avenue and went down Humphrey Street,” Connors said.  “I grew up in Stoneham and when I went to Bishop Fenwick I connected with a lot of folks, and, very broadly, Swampscott became a place that was important to my family both when I lived in Stoneham and in Lynnfield.  At places like Red Rock and now Mission of the Bay, it’s a place where we’ve chosen to commemorate important events just because we love the community so much.”

He added that the opportunity to serve as Swampscott’s town administrator would bring his story full circle.

“This is an opportunity for great professional development and the next step in my career, and an opportunity to join a team and come to a community where I’ve felt a connection for a long time and which has felt like a special place to me going back 30 years,” Connors said. 

Now a Lynnfield resident, Connors serves on the town’s Finance Committee. Prior to his role in Milton, he worked at the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, where he held various leadership positions, including director of external affairs and partnerships, deputy commissioner for public affairs, policy, and administration, and director of the Green Communities Program.

Connors noted that Swampscott’s town administrator, as defined by the town charter, does not have the same strong executive powers as the role in Milton. Still, he said his supervisor in Milton works diligently to ensure the board “buys in” to his decisions, appointments, and policies.

“Here, I would work on personal relationships and be available for whenever works best for you, to understand what the motivations are and to understand how I can bring forward information that makes sure any decision is data-driven but also has a level of compassion to it,” Connors said.

Select Board Chair Katie Phelan asked Connors what he saw as the “defining characteristics, both strengths and potential trouble spots” of the Select Board and what he viewed as “challenges” in dealing with the board. 

“There’s politics and personalities,” Connors said. “Not to go too far down the road in relationship and therapy language, but I think the idea of working toward rupture repair is important…That requires understanding the motivations of where somebody is coming from especially if you disagree with them…It takes work, and it takes time, and it’s a learned skill.”

Connors added that informal communication plays a key role in any complex organization.

As Swampscott still has multiple collective bargaining agreements to negotiate this year, the Select Board asked Connors how he would approach the impending task.

“I support what is reasonable, what is fair, and what gets us to a good collaborative outcome,” Connors said.  “Our hope here is that we have a financial strategy that outlines where the community is and what it’s capable of sustaining. It’s really important that there’s accountability, responsibility and some humility in government decision-making.”

Select Board Member Mary Ellen Fletcher asked Connors how he would deal with job appointments – such as police officers, firefighters, building commissioner and recreation director, town planner – made in the last eight months by interim Town Administrator Gino Cresta.

“My first step would be to talk with Gino and understand the thought process behind each of the appointments,” Connors said.  “What I’d like to hear from you and from Gino is what thought went into it…the background of the decision.  I do not think it would be appropriate for me to tell you today that I would rescind or not rescind any of them.  My initial idea is that they are here to stay and that they are qualified candidates brought in because of their skills, expertise and experience.”

Speaking to the Swampscott Tides after his interview with the Select Board, Connors shared that he’s “committed professionally over time to continuous improvement.” 

“Finding ways to develop new skills, expand the work I’ve done, and apply the things I’ve learned through trial and error,” Connors said. “Looking at the role of town administrator, making sure I have training in procurement, budgeting, even on the HR side.  Trying to make sure I have all the skills necessary, and to take those skills and my experience and apply it in the ‘servant leadership’ style I’ve described.”

Connors had discussed in the interview how he would ensure that everyone from town staff to the Select Board, volunteers and other appointed officials will have the support they need “with clearly articulated goals that flow down from the Select Board.” He’d also work to “give them the tools they need to be successful” as well as “rolling up my sleeves and getting into the work with them.”

“If that means removing an impediment or taking responsibility for something that doesn’t go as we all planned – as long as we’re communicating, providing context in our decision making and working as hard as we can to restore or build confidence in the decisions of local government – then I think it’s been a good day as a town administrator, something I’d love to do in Swampscott,” Connors told the Swampscott Tides.