Tiverton council names a Tiverton Town Planner

William D. Compton started work June 1

By Tom Killin Dalglish
Posted 6/7/18

TIVERTON — Tiverton has a new town planner and planning board administrative officer. He is William D. Compton, of Sheffield, Mass. He was appointed by the Tiverton Town Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, May 29.

Mr. Compton began work with the town June 1, within days of his appointment, at a starting salary of $65,000 under year-one of a contract that says it may be extended for an additional two years. The contract calls for a six-month probationary period.

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Tiverton council names a Tiverton Town Planner

William D. Compton started work June 1

Posted

TIVERTON — Tiverton has a new town planner and planning board administrative officer. He is William D. Compton, of Sheffield, Mass. He was appointed by the Tiverton Town Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, May 29.
Mr. Compton began work with the town June 1, within days of his appointment, at a starting salary of $65,000 under year-one of a contract that says it may be extended for an additional two years. The contract calls for a six-month probationary period.
Mr. Compton was the only applicant for the advertised, and in recent years controversial, position. The position was recently proposed not to be funded (zero funded) in an alternative budget, put forth by petition by Justin Katz, whose proposal was defeated at the polls in the May 19 Financial Town Referendum.
The voter-approved budgeted amount for the position is $75,000. The fiscal impact statement, which includes amounts for FICA, retirement, and health, dental, and life insurance, states a total fiscal impact of $91,125.
The town’s official “position description,” for what it titles the “Town of Tiverton planner/administrative officer,” states that it is “a dual role in municipal government with overlapping reporting relationships, responsibilities and minimum qualifications. To be successful, the employee will adapt to this complex environment using exemplary time and process management skills.”
The primary function of the planner, the description states, is to assist the planning board, the town council, and other boards and commissions of the town “to successfully execute the planning goals identified in the Comprehensive Community Plan.”
The role of planning board “administrative officer” is a position that is required by state statute (RIGL 45-23-55) to exist, and its responsibilities are set forth in the law. The role has for many months been filled by Susan Gill, a planning board member and its vice chairman, who has fulfilled the statutory responsibilities as a volunteer and on an unpaid basis. Mr. Compton will be immediately assuming those responsibilities.
Mr. Compton holds a bachelor’s degree in English, and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning, from the University of New Orleans. He has held planning and grant specialist positions in Pensacola, Fla., coastal Georgia, and the Berkshire region in Massachusetts.
He holds a membership in the American Planning Association, and is AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certified.

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