Easton Selectmen Extend Town Administrator's Contract

David Colton received a contract extension through 2016.

Easton selectmen announced last week that they had approved a contract extension for Town Administrator David Colton. The decision extends Colton's contract through June 30, 2016 at an annual salary of $154,664. It comes after a performance review earlier this year in which all selectmen graded Colton as meeting or exceeding all expectations. "Under the law, a contract can only exsist for three years, and the year of extension gives David a three-year contract," selectmen chair Colleen Corona said. Colton, who is now in his seventh year in Easton Town Offices, said he was pleased Easton will be his professional home until at least 2016. "I’m very happy to be staying on for another three years," he said.

• Photos (1)

Easton Town Administrator: NBA Star's Actions 'Heroic'

Easton Town Administrator David Colton reflects on the meaning of "heroism" and what it meant when NBA center Jason Collins became the first openly gay professional athlete this week.

Easton Town Administrator Earns High Grades From Selectmen

Easton Town Administrator David Colton, now in his seventh year, met or exceeded all expectations this year, according to Selectmen.

Town Administrator David Colton once again earned high grades from the Board of Selectmen during his annual review - the details of which were discussed during a selectmen's meeting Monday night. "As always, it's a pleasure working with you," Board of Selectmen Chair Colleen Corona said. Colton, who is now in his seventh year as Easton's Town Administrator was asked to evaluate himself on a scale of "Exceeds Expectations," "Meets Expecations," and "Failed to Meet Expecations" in 10 categories. Selectmen then followed suit and individually graded the Town Administrator. In all 10 categories, Colton graded himself as either meeting or exceeding expectations. Selectmen mostly agreed with his assessments and graded him as meeting or exceeding …

• Photos (1)

Easton Town Administrator Looks For Sustainable Progress in Preliminary Budget

The Easton Town Administrator released his preliminary budget memo this week. He hopes his budget will fund four new public safety employees for half the year.

Easton Town Administrator David Colton presented a preliminary budget memo to Selectmen this week that, above all else, urged caution. While the town administrator said "no retrenchment" will be made in staffing levels and the overall budget projection, he said the town is not yet ready to fully restore Easton to pre-recession levels. "I’ve laid off firefighters before," he said. "I don’t want to do it again. The danger is we add back too fast in a way we can’t sustain it." Colton's $69.9 million preliminary budget presented a $979,286 deficit, which will be chipped away in coming weeks and months before a final budget is presented at May's Annual Town Meeting. "It’s a process we go through every year and always get to zero," Board of …

• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

VIDEO: Easton Working With National Grid, Town Administrator Says

Easton Town Administrator David Colton gave a "State of the Town" Monday afternoon.

Town Administrator David Colton said Easton is working with a National Grid liaison to quickly restore power outages and the town is not expecting a response as bad as last year's Hurricane Irene response. Colton said the storm is likely to pick up late in the day Monday and more wires are expected to fall. He reiterated that emergency officials are "working around the clock." Colton urged residents to be cautions and the Easton Emergency Management team issued a statement Monday asking residents to prepare for what could be multiple hours and even days of outages.

• Videos (1)

Firefighters Union Files Complaint of Prohibited Practice Against Town

Negotiations for a new firefighters contract have stalled amidst allegations from the firefighters union that town violated collective bargaining rules.

Contract negotiations between the Town of Easton and the Easton Firefighters Union have stalled, and it is unlikely they'll resume any time soon. The Firefighters Union (Local 2790) recently filed a charge of prohibited practice against the town, alleging that Town Administrator David Colton violated collective bargaining rules by publicly discussing negotiations. Colton, and Town Labor Counsel Marc Terry deny any violation. The spar is set to go to a hearing sometime this spring or summer. According to the complaint, the Union alleges that Town Administrator David Colton violated negotiation ground rules, which state that "no public comment can be made about the substance of negotiations unless or until either party files for mediation." …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Read the Transcript of David Colton's Live Chat

Town Administrator David Colton participated in a live chat Thursday.

Town Administrator David Colton participated in live chat with Patch Thursday. To read the transcript, click on the black box above.

• Photos (1)

Live Chat with Easton Town Administrator Scheduled for Thursday at Noon

Town Administrator David Colton will take questions from Easton Patch readers live on Thursday

Have burning question for Town Administrator David Colton? This Thursday, May 24, Easton Patch will give you the opportunity to ask it without leaving the comfort of your home (or your work desk). On Thursday, May 24 at noon, Easton Patch will hold its second monthly live chat with Colton, who will help provide the answers you're looking for. Come back to Easton Patch Thursday and enter our chat room where you can type in your question. (The article with the chat room will go live in the morning, before the chat begins, so you can bookmark it and come back once we're underway, or enter your email address and receive a reminder before the chat starts.) Easton Patch editor Patrick Maguire and Patch staff will choose the best questions and …

• Photos (1)

Development and Town Finances Highlight Discussion With Easton Town Administrator

During a live chat last week, Town Administrator David Colton took questions on a number of topics.

Few hot topics weren't discussed last week when Town Administrator David Colton took questions from Easton residents during a live Patch chat. Colton was joined by Police Chief Allen Krajcik, DPW Director David Field, Town Accountant Wendy Nightingale and Town Planner Brad Washburn. Topics included shovelshop and downtown revitalization, town elections, and crime. Overwhelmingly, however, residents were interested in development around town and town finances. Colton will join us for a live chat again on May 24 at noon. Residents will have an opportunity to ask questions about the May 21 Town Meeting or any other topic. Here is a look at some highlights from last week: EastonPatch: With the Shovelshop deal now closed, what can we expect to …

• Photos (1)

Read the Transcript of David Colton's Live Chat

The Town Administrator took questions from residents Thursday afternoon.

Town Administrator David Colton was joined by Police Chief Allen Krajcik, Town Planner Brad Washburn, Town Accountant Wendy Nightingale and DPW Director David Field Thursday afternoon to take questions from residents. Click on the above chat room to read the transcript.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)