Acting Town Manager Lannon Getting Used to New Position

It's almost been a month now since Mary Ellen Lannon took over as Winchester's Town Manager.

Lannon replaced Melvin Kleckner on July 1, after the Board of Selectmen decided not to renew his contract. After working for the town for nearly five years, both cited a difference in managerial styles that led to the separation.

"(Kleckner) and the Board of Selectmen differed in their idea of the role of the Town Manager," said chair of the Board of Selectmen. "Both parties decided to go in different ways. Mel was good for the community while he worked here, but he had a different managerial approach."

But for Lannon, this new experience and opportunity has definitely been a challenge. Along with being the Acting Town Manager, she still has maintains her previous position as Town Clerk.

"Right now, the work is not overwhelming," Lannon said. "But as we approach the fall and elections it will escalate and become more of a challenge. My staff downstairs (in the Town Clerk's office) has been tremendous. They basically run the day-to-day operations, and I just come down once in a while to check-in."

Even though Lannon wasn't expecting to be a Town Manager so soon, once it was known that Kleckner was leaving, it was something she thought could be a possibility.

"I've worked in government for a while, and when things like that happen they look towards the assistant to fill-in, like the Town Clerk," Lannon said. "They're always considered because of the work that they do, how they're well-rounded and know all the department heads. So, it wasn't completely surprising, I was anticipating it."

According to Johnson, the Board will soon begin the hiring process for a new Town Manager. They first need to hire a consultant and when the time comes, will get public input from the community.

As of yet, the Board does not want to make public where they are in the process. But, Johnson believes, based off of the last two hires for Town Manager, it should take around six months to find a replacement.

Even though, Lannon is intrigued by her new position, she understands that it is a temporary one. And when the time comes, she will be more than happy to move back to her old position in the Town Clerk's office, which according to Lannon, was one of the deals in her taking the Town Manager position.

"At some point, maybe 10 years down the road I'll give it another try," Lannon said about being a permanent Town Manager. "But right now, I have three school-aged children. I'm passionate about local government, but at this point in my life I don't think it fits into my personal life. I'm thankful to give it a try, and that this is only a temporary situation."