VIP OF THE WEEK

Norton Patch VIP of the Week: Michael Yunits

New Town Manager settles in to new job.

Michael Yunits, Norton’s new Town Manager, always envisioned being in town government. After serving as Town Administrator in Holbrook for the past five years, Yunitz has brought his talents to Norton.  “My father ingrained in us at an early age to be active in the community,” said Yunits, whose brother Jack was the mayor of Brockton for 10 years.   Yunits, who began his position in Norton a week ago, has been meeting with the various department heads to become familiar with the town.  “It’s been great meeting people here,” he said. “Everyone’s been helpful. I think it’s going to be a great fit for me.”  The Town Manager position differs from his job in Holbrook.  “I have more authority in the day to day operations of the town,” Yunits …

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New Town Manager Introduced

Yunits introduced to two issues facing town.

New Town Manager Michael Yunits won't be sitting in his office at Norton Town Hall until March, but nonetheless got a bird's-eye view Thursday of two issues that will take up much of his time when he takes the reins. Yunits was formally introduced to the public shortly after he signed what board Chairman Robert Kimball called a "boiler plate" contract in executive session, and also was introduced to the first version of the town budget for 2011/12 by outgoing manager Jim Purcell, who took the audience painstakingly through a detailed presentation. Purcell cheerfully announced afterwards he was headed home for dinner, and hinted he was heading off for a long deserved vacation. Yunits also got a first peek at the four different versions of …

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AN INSIDE LOOK

New Town Manager Facing Many Challenges

Former Holbrook Adminstrator Yunits will have new responsibilities here.

Assuming he is able to reach a contract agreement with the Board of Selectmen, Holbrook Town Administrator Michael Yunits will become the fifth Town Manager in Norton history. When you consider he will likely make close to $50,000 more in salary here than in Holbrook, chances seem good he will accept the position. Yunits has been Town Administrator in Holbrook since 2005, ironically succeeding former Norton assistant to the Town Manager and Town Treasurer Philip Warren.  Warren moved on to Abington as Town Manager, where Yunits again was a candidate to replace him. Yunits was also a finalist for the Town Manager position in neighboring Mansfield last year. The man he sought to replace, former Mansfield Town Manager John D’Agostino, did …

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Outgoing Town Manager Will Be Sorely Missed

Jim Purcell leaves Norton a better town than he found it.

Town Manager Jim Purcell officially retires this week, ending a nearly decade-long run as Norton’s top administrator. And as with everything during his successful stay here, he’s doing it his way – quietly and professionally. It is not easy to be a Town Manager. People expect you to provide more services for less money. You have to deal with a wide range of employees and town officials. You have to negotiate union contracts. And your professional life is carried out in a fishbowl, where your successes are expected and your mistakes magnified. There are many different styles utilized by town managers. Some are brash, leading in an outwardly confrontational manner. Others are behind-the-scenes kind of folks, trying to show as little as …

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Town Manager Finalists Announced

Out of 55 applications, the eight finalists come from communities near Norton.

Selectmen will put in a full day the first Saturday in February, interviewing five finalists and two alternates for the office of Town Manager. The candidate who is offered the job will fill some big shoes, replacing outgoing seven-year veteran Jim Purcell. The Town Manager screening committee presented its recommendations Thursday, and gave the board a list of candidates who had turned out on top, after 15 telephone interviews and 13 face-to-face interviews. The interviews ended on Jan. 4, and the five finalists were picked the next week. All in all, the eight-member committee received 55 applications from all over the country, said search committee chair Beth McManus. In the end, however, the finalists came from communities near Norton…

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