For the first time, Chapin has a town administrator.

Nicholle Burroughs – previously the town’s director of communication and public affairs, economic development and community development director – has been hired to assume the role of the town’s first-ever town administrator, a position recently approved by Town Council.

“I'm really just excited about the opportunity to serve the community and something that I'm passionate about,” she told the Chronicle, “and I think the town administrator role won't change the level of service that I've been able to provide over the last four years. But it'll certainly enable us to look towards the future and to capitalize on some of those goals that the mayor and council have set forth.”

Burroughs said that over the last couple of years she has been taking on more and more responsibilities due to Chapin being small with limited staff. Some of these responsibilities included applying for grants or managing projects with the state Department of Transportation on their infrastructure and working with their developers. She said that these responsibilities were traditionally outside of the role she previously worked.

During this time, the town realized it needed someone to focus on those responsibilities Monday through Friday and be a leader within the organization.

“I really feel it’s one of the most important things that I think our town has ever done and it’s critical to our future in terms of managing our town, the growth and so forth, going forward,” Mayor Al Koon said of adding the position after council voted to hire Burroughs at its Oct. 18 meeting. 

According to Burroughs, she still has the responsibilities of her previous role, though the town is searching for a person to both occupy Town Hall’s front desk and take on the role of communication specialist. By adding another position, the new administrator hopes to be able to focus on projects, large-scale strategic planning, making sure departments functioning properly, and being responsive to the public.

The role of Town Administrator is important to Chapin as it creates a full-time leader within the organization, someone directly responsible and accountable for all of the actions of the town hall, increased ability to advocate for the town and fully aware of the current issues

 Burroughs was one of over 20 applicants who interviewed with the mayor and at least one member of council along with a panel review. She told the Chronicle that she believes she stood out due to her past management and human resource experience and her understanding of what’s happening within the town.

“We're committed to responding to the community in a positive and transparent manner.” she said. “We are looking forward to working together with the public to make sure that our small town is preserved and that we're continuing to provide the resources and the services that the public should expect.”