Chelgren Takes the Reins in Marblehead

Former Wenham Town Administrator Jeffrey Chelgren attended his first Marblehead Board of Selectmen's meeting on Wednesday night since taking over as that town's Town Administrator.

Former Wenham Town Administrator Jeffrey Chelgren was all smiles at Abbot Hall in Marblehead last Wednesday as he attended his first Board of Selectmen's meeting as Marblehead Town Administrator. On May 1, Chelgren took over for longtime Marblehead Town Administrator Tony Sasso, who retired after more than 18 years on the job. Chelgren, who before taking over in Marblehead spent the last 10 years working in Wenham, recently signed a three-year contract with Marblehead worth $125,000 annually. Chelgren made $93,899 last year in Wenham. At Wenham Annual Town Meeting earlier this month, voters approved a budget that increase the annual pay for the position to $100,000. "It is a dream come true to be the Town Administrator for the town of …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: April 30

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Monday, April 30. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Wenham Town Meeting: If you have anything to say about the articles on the 2012 Wenham Annual Town Meeting warrant or have any questions, plan to be at the Buker Elementary School on Monday night. The Wenham Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee will be holding a warrant hearing at 7:30 p.m. The entire warrant is attached to this story as a PDF. 2. Positive Discipline: Cynthia Griffin and Evalyn Lawnsby of the Family Network present a free workshop on Monday night at Notre Dame Children’s Class in Wednesday called “Positive Discipline That Works.” It’s the first of a two-day workshop that continues on May 7 focused on encouraging appropriate behavior in toddlers …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: April 17

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, April 17. Here are five things you need to know:  1. Beautiful: Monday was a great day weatherwise, and Tuesday should be just about as good. The forecast calls for sunny skies with temperatures into the 70s. 2. Trash: Monday was a holiday (Patriots’ Day) so trash pickup starts for the week on Tuesday in Wenham and will be delayed by a day for the rest of the week. When pickup moves to Hamilton on Thursday, it is a “blue bag” week, meaning collection will be for recycling and organics in the green barrel and trash can only be put out in a blue trash bag. Trash in the town-issued black barrel will not happen this week and resume next week. 3. Hamilton Selectmen: Typically, the Hamilton Board of Selectmen meets on Monday …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: April 13

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Friday, April 13. Here are five things you need to know:  1. Sun: Bright sunny skies are forecasted to return on Friday. In fact, it sounds like it will be a beautiful spring day, with temperatures into the upper 50s with a light southwest wind. 2. Wenham voting: If you want to vote in the Wenham town elections or at Wenham Town Meeting on May 5, today is your last day to register. If you are already registered and nothing (such as your name or address) has changed, you are all set. Otherwise, the Town Clerk’s office at Wenham Town Hall will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 3. Chelgren: Friday is Wenham Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren’s final day on the job. He will move on to become the new town administrator in Marblehead. Interim Town…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 11

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Wednesday, April 11. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Wenham Town Administrator: Outgoing Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren will get a farewell party on Wednesday morning at Wenham Town Hall. Chelgren’s last day on the job is Friday before he begins his new job at town administrator in Marblehead. He has held the top job in Wenham town government for 10 years. The event runs from 9:30-11 a.m. in the first floor meeting room at Town Hall. 2. Open Space and Trails: We normally wouldn’t mention something this far out of town, but there’s a great event happening on Wednesday morning in Wakefield with strong ties to our area. The North Shore Task Force and North Suburban Planning Council are hosting an open space and trails …

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Andrews Commits to Wenham, Withdraws as Saugus Finalist

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Mark Andrews, who will begin as interim town administrator in Wenham in mid-April, said he is fully committed to the job and has withdrawn as a finalist for the top job in Saugus. Andrews arrived in Wenham for the first time last Wednesday when he met with town department heads – he brought with him three pounds of Italian cookies from Tripoli Bakery in Lawrence. On Tuesday night, Andrews will attend the Board of Selectmen meeting, when he will be formally introduced to the town. His first full-time day will be April 16, although Andrews plans to work in Wenham at least one day a week until then. He had a vacation planned in Wareham – where he has worked as town administrator for the past two years - in mid-April and that will instead …

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Andrews to Meet Employees, Attend Wenham Selectmen's Meeting in Next Week

Mark Andrews, the new interim town administrator in Wenham, will meet with town departments heads this week and attend the Board of Selectmen next week in advance of taking over on April 16.

Mark Andrews, Wenham’s pick for interim town administrator, will begin working part-time in Wenham as soon as this week, the chairman of the Wenham Board of Selectmen said on Monday. Andrews has signed a contract that runs through the end of August and will be paid slightly more than Jeff Chelgren, the existing town administrator who is leaving next month to become the town administrator in Marblehead. Andrews will be paid an amount equal to $100,000 annually, Chelgren said on Monday. Chelgren earns $93,456 annually. Andrews, who has been the town administrator in Wareham since December 2009, announced to the Wareham Board of Selectmen on Saturday he will take over an interim town administrator in Wenham beginning April 16. On Monday, …

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Wenham Aims to Have Interim Leader on Board by Early April

A field of more than two-dozen candidates for the interim Town Administrator job in Wenham will be winnowed down to three or four finalists next week.

More than two dozen candidates have applied to become the interim Town Administrator in Wenham. The Wenham Board of Selectmen plan to meet on Monday morning to go over all the resumes that were submitted by last Friday’s deadline. Board chairman Molly Martins said she is looking for the board to rate the 26 applicants with an A, B or C so that the board can decide on three or four candidates to interview. Martins said she hopes that by mid-March that Selectmen would be negotiating a contract with the top pick. The interim Town Administrator would take over for outgoing Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren, who has been named the new Town Administrator in Marblehead. His last day on the job in Wenham is scheduled for April 13. Martins said she …

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Robert Gates

12:17 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The word "winnow" has several definitions, but the definition that was being used in this case is "to examine closely in order to separate the good from the bad." That definition comes from the "free dictionary" online. Here's Miriam-Webster's definition: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winnow   more ›

Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Feb. 16

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Thursday, Feb. 16. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Wenham Town Administrator: The deadline for applicants to become the interim Town Administrator in Wenham is Friday. Town Administrator Jeff Chelgren has been named the new Town Administrator in Marblehead and his last day in Wenham will be April 13. The Board of Selectmen are looking for an interim to step in after Chelgren leaves. 2. Gas: Gas prices continue to go up. The lowest price for gallon of regular gas in the two towns on Wednesday was $3.64 at G & M Motors. At Hamilton Convenience and Oliver Gulf, a gallon was $3.59. It was selling for $3.79 at Fallon’s. It is at the same price it was last April and June. Remember, any time you want to check on local gas …

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