HEBRON — Residents will find a familiar face when they meet the town’s new administrator.
Alicia Bryant, who worked at Hebron Town Office since last December as deputy treasurer, was selected May 27 by the hiring committee to become its first administrator.
Bryant emerged as the lead prospect after four candidates were interviewed earlier in the month. The hiring committee consisted of the three-member Select Board: Chair Butch Asselin, Elizabeth Olsen and Joseph Chretien; and Ad Hoc Committee members Dennis Lajoie and Robert Fonce.
The Ad Hoc Committee was formed one year ago to review the most viable options for Hebron’s governance. Townspeople authorized the town administrator position during annual town meeting in March.
“Everyone on the committee was impressed with the caliber of people who applied for the position,” wrote Asselin in a statement to the Advertiser Democrat. “Everyone did well during their interviews which made the final selection difficult.
“Alicia was the unanimous choice.”
Bryant will supervise Hebron’s operational departments: municipal services, public works and the transfer station.
“As a selectman, I have been impressed with Alicia’s work ethic and her capacity to learn things quickly,” Asselin continued. “The selectmen have set some training goals for Alicia to complete within the next six months. Alicia has demonstrated that she is vested in the community and the Board looks forward to having a long working relationship with her.”
Bryant has spent the last 13 years juggling several professional and personal responsibilities. Her focus was raising her four sons, while also working part-time as dental clinician as well as managing accounting and payroll for the family business, J Bryant Heating and Cooling.
Her initial work for the town of Hebron was a volunteer elections assistant.
“It was nice to see the community every day,” she said. “When the deputy treasurer/clerk position posted, it was a good way to get back into the working field. It’s been a comfortable role for me.”
Bryant officially starts her new duties June 30. She has accepted a three-year contract for a 32-hour work week with a starting pay of $33 an hour, which will increase to $35 concluding a successful six-month probationary evaluation.
During her first six months she will complete municipal training. Bryant sees her position as a way to grow and build community relationships with citizens, local businesses and other institutions, including Hebron Academy.
“Alicia has demonstrated that she is vested in the community and the Board looks forward to having a long working relationship with her,” Asselin wrote.
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