Little Compton has hired a dedicated senior services director, a move long sought by the town's elder population.

Pam Coward, who has lived in Little Compton for 12 years, starts xx, Feb. 10.

“It’s just a great opportunity to have the first foot on the ground with what I think is going to be an amazing new program for the town,” she said.

The part time position pays $ 30 per hour, with a 20-hour work week.

Coward's role includes dispensing information about services available to seniors, collaborating with partners such as the community and wellness center,s and overseeing a future senior center.

She said her first goal is to get to know the names and faces of the community's seniors, what they want and need. The recently completed community needs senior survey as an important starting point, she said.

“It was very eye-opening to have access to the community needs assessment and get a feel for what everyone's feedback was,” she said.

Coward has been active in volunteering at the community center, and has also been involved with the food pantry and wellness center.

She said she hopes that her role will allow her to be an effective liaison for the Little Compton seniors and the town council, and looks forward to working with other directors of town services.

“I think the over-arching goal of every single one of these centers is for community involvement and for everyone to feel like they had a home and space and have the services they need.”