Debra Knowles was recently appointed as Seabrook's new finance office manager. Town officials made the appointment late last month.
Knowles follows former finance office manager Victoria MacLaughlin. Town officials came to a final separation agreement with MacLaughlin recently, after she'd been on administrative leave since April. MacLaughlin was hired in July 2007.
Knowles comes to the position after working in the finance office since 2004 as its clerk. Knowles gathered her financial and bookkeeping knowledge on the job, she said, after working for years in the field. Her experience includes working in the finance offices of both Odyssey House and the Red Cross, both non profit organizations.
But Knowles credits as her mentor a financial expert at Salisbury's Graf Brothers Trucking. He took her under his wing, she said, and gave her an on-the-job education on all facets of financial process and management.
Knowles has already assumed the position as the finance office manager, and the town will be hiring a finance office clerk to replace her.
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Knowles is the second department head hired recently. Curtis Slayton was also hired in late June as the new head of the Seabrook Water Department.
According to Selectman Bob Moore, selectmen also made an offer to their choice of the candidates for the position of town manager.
Current Town Manager Scott Dunn resigned about two months ago after about a year on the job and will be leaving in about a week.
Moore said selectmen interviewed four of those who applied for Dunn's job through the review process set up by the N.H. Local Government Center. Moore would not say if the candidate was someone local, but said selectmen felt this candidate was the top on their list of interviewees.
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Seabrook's 15-year franchise agreement with Comcast Cable Company will be coming to an end in 2010, and officials are starting early in their negotiations with the cable giant, which wants another 15-year agreement.
Town officials are seeking resident input on the town's cable service, but unfortunately, the town's hands are tied on certain aspects of cable company offerings.
According to Dunn, the federal government forbids local officials the ability to deal with either how much cable companies charge local subscribers or what is or is not included in the various cable packages offered.
In an effort to reach out to the community, selectmen are hoping to put together a citizens committee to help with the negotiations. Those willing to serve, should send a letter of interest to selectmen.
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Public Works Department Manager John Starkey said this year his department has answered about 150 requests from residents, more than in years past.
By far, Starkey said, the most frequent topic of discussion is water related.
"I spend a lot of time going to people's homes taking about puddles," Starkey told selectmen recently. "People don't like puddles. It's not God's water, it's Seabrook's water bothering them. So, they call me about puddles. Puddles. I spend a lot of time on puddles."
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At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Seabrook Library will presents a free program, "Wacky Songs That Made Us Laugh."
Laughter always has the ability to reduce tension and help people forget troubles, and express frustrations, according to Seabrook Librarian Anne Robinson. This program, presented by Calvin Knickerbocker, includes excerpts from about 35 side-splitting original recordings from the 1920s to the 1990s.
Included will be: Der Fuehrer's Face (1941) — Spike Jones; I'm My Own Grandpa (1948) — Tony Pastor; Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (1963) — Allan Sherman; Dropkick Me, Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life) (1976) — Bobby Bare.
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The Seacoast Area Firefighters Toybank will hold a motorcycle ride to benefit the program on July 26, according to Seabrook firefighter Mark Potvin, who is heads up Seabrook's Toy Bank. Money raised will help fund the group's annual Christmas campaign which provides toys for needy children in the area.
The ride will start in Gonic and proceed to Seabrook then back to Gonic. Members of each fire department will join in along the way.
In Gonic the group will hold its first BBQ Cook-Off, something members hope will become a tradition in years to come. The Cook-Off starts at noon and runs to 3:30 p.m. It will be held at Brickstones Restaurant in the Gonic Mill. For only $5, the public can sample all the BBQ entries, including ribs, beef brisket and chicken.
Also on July 26, Seabrook firefighters will be accepting new gifts and monetary donations for Seabrook's 2008 Toy Bank campaign at the Seabrook Fire Station on 87 Centennial St. Stuffed animals, or used gifts will not be accepted.
For more information, call the fire department at 603-474-5200.
Angeljean Chiaramida is the Seabrook reporter and can be contacted by calling 978-462-6666 ext. 3271, or at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com.
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