Greetings Citizens of Stoughton,
With every new challenge comes an opportunity. With multiple challenges occurring at the same time,
there is an opportunity to experience and appreciate the extraordinary value and commitment of ones’
team. As I approach the end of my 3 rd month as your Town Manager, I have been surprised at the
number of challenges we face and completely edified by my teams’ response to those challenges.
Among those challenges include the near term insolvency of the employee health insurance program,
structural deficits in several of the towns enterprise funds, a 7,000-gallon flood in Town Hall and a
Management crisis in our Assessing department which resulted in inaccurate bills sent to the citizens of
Stoughton. Most painfully, we stopped and paused as we grieved the sudden passing of Officer
Christopher Davis. We were incredibly proud of the manner in which the members of our Police
Department honored Chris. We continue to remember Chris and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
Unforeseen challenges will always be part of municipal government Management. However, our
ongoing priority is to improve the level of communication and transparency with the Citizens of
Stoughton. Each of those issues will be favorably resolved in the in the days and months ahead. In
support of our commitment to openness and transparency regarding the issues facing our Town, I am
hosting public information sessions which will include presentations by experts and will allow unlimited
time for questions and answers from the public. Among topics to be covered in the near future are the
structural deficits that exist within our water and sewer enterprise funds, the subsidies needed to cover
deficits in our solid waste budget, the construction of the new Fire Station, the potential for joining
regional 911 and the condition of our aging infrastructure, which includes water and sewer lines,
buildings and town roads. We are going to address the status of town owned buildings and their use.
We are going to address our Economic Development and Redevelopment strategy. Most importantly,
we are scheduling a post Labor Day weekend Financial Summit, which will include my Senior Staff, the
Select Board, School and Finance Committees. The purpose of that summit is to build consensus on a
long term financial plan which will strengthen the Town’s balance sheet, address the Town’s
infrastructure needs and place great emphasis on the tax burden facing the citizens of Stoughton. I am
confident that with all of that brain power focused on a common purpose, we will emerge with a long
term plan which will be communicated to the citizens of Stoughton.
I would like to report that I have found your Town Government to be strong. Each individual that I have
had the pleasure of working with is both passionate and laser focused on the needs of the community. I
am certain that with our renewed commitment to constituent communication and full transparency,
confidence in your government will be strengthened!
All of the challenges raised above are being addressed. You can be confident that the Town of Stoughton
is moving in the right direction. I thank those citizens who have reached out to offer their support and
input. I ask that those who have questions feel free to call or visit me at Town Hall. I’m always happy to
pour you a cup of coffee and to chat about our Town.
Tom Calter