Reporter’s Notebook: Hello new Finance Director, goodbye Mat Often’s beard
Mary Lauria was officially hired as Grafton’s new finance director/town accountant, taking on a revamped position that has been vacant since June.
Lauria, finance director/accountant for the town of Monson since 2015, has both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Worcester State University and previously worked in a state accounting role at Hanscom Air Force Base.
“I changed the process in Monson. I prefer a team approach,” Lauria said of her work style.
She also noted that the budget in Grafton is about double the budget in Monson.
“That just means I’m working with bigger numbers. That’s all,” she joked.
Her starting salary is $102,500.
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Another new face popping on the Zoom grid at Select Board was William Blake, who started this week in the town administrator’s office as management analyst and communications specialist.
The new position is a revamp of the former assistant town administrator role, with HR and other responsibilities transferred to the new finance director. His primary role will be grant writing and public information, managing the town’s social media and and enhancing the website.
Blake reassured the Select Board that he had prepared for his role by watching several past meetings.
“I have to say, I do miss the beard,” he said to Select Board member Mat Often, who shaved his impressive COVID-19 beard in celebration of the New Year.
We’re going to get along just fine, William.
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The remainder of the Grafton Town House Garden Fund — $4,947 — was donated to the Grafton Food Bank on the request of Bill Yeomans, who started the beautification group.
Yeomans surveyed the 37 donors to the fund on the request of the Select Board prior to the vote and received approval from 32 donors. The remaining five had moved, with one donor deceased.
The funds “will enable the Grafton Food Bank to quickly receive these sorely needed funds to provide assistance to Grafton individuals and families dealing with ongoing food insecurities,” Yeomans wrote.
