BRAINTREE − A key behind-the-scenes official will leave town hall next week.
Director of Municipal Finance Ed Spellman is retiring after almost 16 years on the job and nearly 35 years in municipal finance.
Spellman’s departure comes as Mayor Erin Joyce’s new administration works to find upwards of about $10 million in new revenues or spending cuts to balance the town’s next annual budget, which begins July 1. That’s more than 6% of the current $160.4 million budget.
The town council honored Spellman at Tuesday’s meeting.
Town Council President Charles Ryan told Spellman he was “good at your job and a good person” who would always take the time to explain the intricacies of budget issues.
Ryan read a letter from former Mayor Joseph Sullivan, who brought Spellman to Braintree in the summer of 2008. He praised Spellman’s work over the years to increase the town’s financial reserves and raise its bond rating.
“He was the financial architect in our success,” Sullivan said.
District 5 Town Councilor Meredith Boericke said in a Facebook post that before she joined the council she “certainly did not appreciate the breadth of skills a municipal finance director must be well-versed in: everything from state laws, pension funds to tax rates to bonding. A finance director serves as an expert resource for the mayor’s office and the council throughout the year, not just at budget time.”
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Joyce said Spellman’s presence will be missed at town hall. She said candidates for the job were interviewed last week.
“We hope to make that announcement very soon” on the hiring of a new town finance director, the mayor said.
A graduate of Boston College, Spellman grew up in Milton and began his career in municipal finance as Dedham’s town treasurer. He later worked in East Bridgewater and Milton and was Newton’s treasurer before taking the Braintree job.
As municipal finance director, Spellman was in charge of the accountant’s, assessor’s, purchasing, treasurer’s and collector’s offices.
His last day on the job will be Feb. 16.
As for his retirement plans, Spellman said he “might do some consulting work.” He also plans to travel around the United States.
In other business, the council approved Joyce’s appointment of Kara Nyman as chief of staff and operations. A former Rockland selectman, Nyman is a former assistant town administrator in Holbrook.
Reach Fred Hanson at [email protected].
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