Selectmen Welcome Burlington's Next Town Administrator

The Burlington Board of Selectmen announced this week that an agreement had been made between the town and Ashland Town Manager John Petrin over the contract that makes Petrin Burlington's new town administrator.

Petrin was offered the job last Monday after the board interviewed the three finalist selected by the Town Administrator Search Committee. Later in the week Board Chair Walter Zenkin and Burlington Human Resources Director Joanne Faust met with Petrin and worked out a contract and Zenkin announced the completed negotiations during Monday's meeting. 

"I am pleased to announce the board has agreed on Mr. Petrin’s contract and he has reviewed and accepted it," Zenkin informed the public.

The chair then called for a vote to approve, which was passed by a 5-0 vote.

Zenkin said the contract process was quite easy and he appreciated Petrin's professionalism during the interview and negotiations.

"It was the first time I really got to meeting him besides during the interviews," he said. "I feel really confident. His personalty and character shined in the negotiations. He didn’t play any games and he was excited to be there and everything was easy and a pleasure. I am confident he will gel with the Town of Burlington.

Petrin was asked to say a few words before sitting down to watch the proceedings he will soon partake in when he comes aboard on June 18.

"I’m really excited to come to Burlington," Petrin said. "It’s really a great community. I also appreciate the meeting I had with Walter and Joanne, they were very professional."

Petrin make a slight joke at his own expense while complimenting , who announced his retirement last October after 30 years of public service, much of it in Burlington. 

"My pants size may be larger than Bob's but the footprints he has left that I’ll have to fill are very large," Petrin said. "He has set up a great team here in town and I look forward to working with everyone."

Petrin has been the Ashland Town Manager since 2005. Petrin has a variety of community government experience. He was the Park Commission in Bellingham from 1980 to 1985. He was also the Town Administrator for Pepperell from 1985 to 1988 and had the same position in Harvard from 1988 to 2001. Petrin was also the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Marlborough from 2001 to 2005. He has a BA in political science from Stonehill College and a Masters in Public Administration from Northeastern University.