New job an enjoyable ‘whirlwind’ for Middleboro Town Manager

MIDDLEBORO — New Town Manager James McGrail has sifted through development challenges, dealt with personnel matters, focused on financial issues and even contemplated a condemnation order. 

And that was all in one day.

The variety of tasks he faces on a daily basis keeps him busy. He described his early weeks on the job as “an absolute whirlwind.’’

But he also enjoys the ability to multi-task, he said.

“I get to be involved in a lot of different things. I get to work in everybody’s sandbox.’’

The ultimate goal of this work, he noted, is to solve problems. “I get to help people,’’ he said of his new job.

McGrail was hired by the Middleboro select board to replace Robert Nunes, who retired in October. 

He had been Marion’s Town Administrator since 2019. Before that, he was the director of facilities for Sandwich schools from 2018 to 2019 and the executive director of South Shore Country Club in Hingham from 2010 to 2018.

During his interview for the position, McGrail said he would spend his first six months on the job “building relationships,’’ including with the town staff, and would make an effort to spend time with employees working at the town hall annex. 

That bonding has begun, he said. 

Since beginning the job in November, he has met with every department head to “talk through their concerns and how I can help their departments.’’

Through these conversations, he has discovered a common denominator: A desire for improved interactions between departments. 

“All departments are interested in working more collaboratively with each other,’’ he said.

That is one concern he plans to tackle, he said. “Communication is an issue that can be resolved,’’ he said.

One way to facilitate that, he explained, is to unite people to work on problems. I hope to bring more of a team approach’’ which will “allow Middleboro to grow in a strategic’’ way.

For example, he envisioned bringing together developers, board chairs and department heads “so we are on the same page.’’

When boards work together to “see the big picture,’’ they can help “identify projects that are good for the town and what doesn’t fit.’’

He has enjoyed his interactions with town staff, whom he described as “overwhelmingly supportive’’ and easy to work with.

Meeting residents has also been an enjoyable experience, he said. “There’s a real thirst for civic engagement here,’’ he said. “There’s nothing worse than when you do a project and nobody knows about it.’’

That is rarely the case in Middleboro, he said, because people attend meetings in person, watch them on cable television and read about issues in the newspaper. “It’s refreshing to see the community is so engaged.’’

He also praised the select board, who he works with regularly and who serve as his supervisors. “I’m blessed to have a good board,’’ he said, who he said provide “strong support.’’

“They give me good direction, they give the town good direction. They have the best interest of the community at heart.’’

McGrail plans to schedule coffee hours at various parts of town to meet with residents. He said he hopes people will attend these and “talk to me about their concerns.’’

As he settles into the position, he offers high praise for the town and the post.

“I love it,’’ he said, “and I’m very happy here.’’