Newtown is on the verge of hiring its first-ever purchasing agent. But regardless of who accepts the position, it is no secret that they will have a relatively short time to earn their keep - literally.

When voters endorsed the 2018-19 school and town budgets last April, their authorization included $100,000 to develop a brand new job that for years has been recommended and touted as a means by which both the school district and town could save money.

The hope is, significant amounts of money.

While talk of acquiring a purchasing agent, or procurement professional as they are also known, has percolated for around a decade, energy behind the effort got a big boost around this time two years ago.

In August of 2016, a Legislative Council committee charged with evaluating how Newtown municipal and school offices could merge services to reduce costs while improving efficiency and taxpayer services recommended and received unanimous approval to explore hiring a purchasing professional.

But it was back in 2008 when, on the repetitive request of former Councilman Dan Amaral and other supporters, that the council first took up a higher level initiative of examining how town and school district services and positions could be merged to enhance efficiency and reduce taxpayer costs.

The so-called "Danny Amaral Committee" was intensively focused and met frequently under the leadership of current council Chairman Paul Lundquist and former First Selectman Pat Llodra, who at the time was the council's Education Committee chair.

The panel met 16 times after its formation in 2008, and generated more than 60 pages of minutes while meeting with 15 town officials or department heads. But each year since, budget challenges derailed any serious effort to create a new department head position, despite the concept that a purchasing agent could affect taxpayer savings.

Renewed Interest

But a 2016 Shared Services committee was successful in reactivating the plan to develop a purchasing office.

That committee, chaired by Councilman Dan Wiedemann, tapped council colleagues George Ferguson and Chris Eide, town Finance Director Robert Tait, school District Business Manager Ron Bienkowski, and resident James Ritchie, a former Charter Revision Commissioner, and retired Plainville superintendent of schools.

That committee's number one recommendation was to create a position for a purchasing agent for BOE and municipality to provide expert assembling of bid packages including liability, insurance, bonds, and other legal requirements of the state and federal governments.

The purchasing professional would also be responsible for improving the town and school district's capacity for research and vetting of products and services, and reducing distractions from other professional duties required of current purchasing authorities in various departments.

At the time, Mr Wiedemann found several department heads were concerned they were not necessarily qualified to prepare and produce complex bid packages.

Mr Ritchie envisioned department workers remaining very active in the preparation for bidding, with the purchasing professional affecting quality control by ensuring any legal intricacies in complex bids were all addressed properly.

Although that recommendation was the subject of pointed discussions during the 2017-18 budget process, the position failed to get the necessary support to be included in the spending plan. But a year later, officials decided that the town could no longer afford to go without at least piloting a purchasing professional.

During discussions that included the budget recommendation providing a salary and benefit package for the new position, the plan was supported by a majority of council members, following endorsements from the Boards of Selectmen and Finance as well.

Prior to the selectmen's recommendation to create the position last January, it was determined that the school district and the town would share the individual's expertise, along with each annual budget earmarking $50,000 to pay for it.

Details & Responsibilities

The position is currently posted with a salary of $85,000. The balance of budgeted funds presumably covers benefits.

In discussions about the addition leading up to the unanimous vote of support among selectmen last January, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said it would be his expectation that the position would essentially pay for itself by the second year by producing equivalent or greater savings for the town and school district.

The application process is due to close on August 3, according to officials.

Applicants are asked to have attained a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Business Management or a closely related field.

Applicants should also have a minimum five years' experience in municipal or business environment; a thorough knowledge of purchasing practices and procedures; the ability to deal effectively and positively with staff members and vendors; to negotiate detailed orders of materials, supplies and equipment; and a knowledge of Town and State procurement guidelines according to the official job posting.

The purchasing professional's responsibilities will center around 20 core functions outlined in the job description. Among those responsibilities will be to attend meetings of various boards and commissions as required, including the Public Building and Site Commission, which handles project management on most school and municipal capital projects.

For more information on the position, visit the Human Resources department link at newtown-ct.gov.