McGrail leaves Middleboro with pride and gratitude

MIDDLEBORO --- When Jay McGrail closes the door on his time as town manager this week to take a new position in Harwich, he will especially miss the community of individuals he leaves behind.

“I really loved the people I’ve worked with and the boards I’ve worked with,’’ he said. “It’s like a family.’’

McGrail described developing that “family atmosphere’’ as one of his proudest achievements.

He worked to build an organization “grounded in teamwork, respect and shared purpose.’’

That plays an important role, he said, in maintaining employee morale, which in turn helps the public receive the best service possible.

McGrail is leaving Middleboro to become town administrator in Harwich. McGrail, who lives in Sandwich and describes himself as a “Cape guy,’’ said there is “no part of me that thinks I’ve made the wrong decision’’ in accepting the new job.’’

But leaving Middleboro remains “bittersweet,’’ he said.

His tenure was a busy one.

In late 2023, the town welcomed Haitian migrants who were housed in a local hotel as part of an influx of refugees into the state.

Even amid the controversy surrounding the issue, residents treated the refugees, many of them children, with “compassion,’’ including collections of food and supplies, McGrail recalled. “That moved me.’’

The tragic fire that claimed the life of 12-year-old Jasmine Lane in February of 2024 “affected me to my core,’’ he said. “I’ll never forget it.’’

Less than 48 hours after her death, McGrail, the town’s police and fire chiefs and superintendent of schools met with Jasmine’s family in McGrail’s office to offer support. “That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,’’ he remembered of meeting the grieving family.

During McGrail’s tenure, the town reached an agreement with the state about the zoning changes mandated for MBTA communities and took steps to construct a new East Grove treatment plant to reduce PFAS chemicals in the water supply.

When he arrived in town, controversy surrounded the fate of the historic Peirce Building. He takes pride in transforming the vacant site into a mixed use facility with office space and apartments.

“People live there now,’’ he said. “That’s something I’m really proud of.’’

He also cited family-oriented activities that he started, including a New Year’s Eve noise parade, a remembrance tree display at Town Hall during the holidays and improvements to the Wood Street ballfield.

“These projects are about more than facilities,’’ he stated. “They are about creating spaces where families gather, children grow and neighbors connect.’’

None of this, he stressed, happened in a vacuum.

In addition to appreciating the support from town staff and residents, he thanked the select boards he has worked with. He especially noted Mark Germain, who was chair for McGrail’s entire tenure, and Neil Rosenthal, who retired in 2024 after decades of public service and provided deep historical knowledge. “People like Neil make the town better,’’ he said.

 He also thanked Robert Nunes, the former town manager whose retirement left a vacancy that McGrail was hired to fill, for helping his transition into the new role.

In the end, the people make all the difference, McGrail said. 

Middleboro, he said, “has the biggest heart of any community.’’