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For Rees, accomplishing goals is the bottom line Trimble, Elizabeth; Telegram &Gazette Staff . Telegram & Gazette ; Worcester, Mass. [Worcester,

Mass]. 27 Jan 1995: B3.

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ABSTRACT (ABSTRACT) NORTHBRIDGE - Town Manager Mark H. Rees believes he made "significant progress" over the past year

accomplishing many of the tasks that the Board of Selectmen assigned him.

In his yearly report submitted to the board this month, Rees outlined his progress on a variety of projects, ranging

from a new personnel system to union contract negotiations. But it is clear from the report - and the board's recent

evaluation of his performance - that his forte is in fiscal matters. FULL TEXT  

NORTHBRIDGE - Town Manager Mark H. Rees believes he made "significant progress" over the past year

accomplishing many of the tasks that the Board of Selectmen assigned him.

In his yearly report submitted to the board this month, Rees outlined his progress on a variety of projects, ranging

from a new personnel system to union contract negotiations. But it is clear from the report - and the board's recent

evaluation of his performance - that his forte is in fiscal matters.

Last year, he wrote, he saved the town $26,000 in property and liability insurance premiums; converted payroll,

property tax and excise tax duties to the new computer system, saving $10,000 annually; helped reduce legal and

short-term borrowing expenses and stabilized health insurance costs.

He also mentioned the approval of four debt exclusions this spring, marking the first time Northbridge residents

voluntarily increased their property taxes. Budgets were alloted for the library, Council on Aging, Recreation

Department and the street light account; money was put in the stabilization fund for the first time in several years,

and the town's free cash actually amounted to a significant number.

"When I first came in, we had a revenue deficit," Rees said, meaning the town was spending more than it was

collecting. "The next two years we had a free cash deficit. Then we brought it (the free cash account) up to

$10,000. Now it's up to $215,000."

Rees did not take sole responsibility for the town's financial improvement. "These objectives were not

accomplished by me sitting behind my desk," he said. "It was with town department heads and employees working

together."

Other tasks Rees worked on over the past year included:

Finding a solution to the dilemma posed by having both a municipal and a private water system. A consultant

studied the issue and recommended that the town purchase the Whitinsville Water Co. Preliminary negotiations

are under way.

Overhauling the personnel system, including policies, the wage and classification plan, the evaluation system and

record-keeping.

Illustration

PHOTO; Caption: TOWN MANAGER MARK H. REES

DETAILS

Subject: Liability insurance; Contract negotiations

Business indexing term: Subject: Liability insurance Contract negotiations

Publication title: Telegram &Gazette; Worcester, Mass.

Pages: B3

Number of pages: 0

Publication year: 1995

Publication date: Jan 27, 1995

Dateline: NORTHBRIDGE

Section: LOCAL NEWS

Publisher: GateHouse Media, Inc.

Place of publication: Worcester, Mass.

Country of publication: United States, Worcester, Mass.

Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--United States

ISSN: 10504184

Source type: Newspaper

Language of publication: English

Document type: NEWSPAPER

ProQuest document ID: 268551597

Document URL: https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/rees-accomplishing-goals-is-bottom-

line/docview/268551597/se-2?accountid=192155

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Copyright: Copyright Worcester Telegram &Gazette Jan 27, 1995

Last updated: 2020-12-30

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