Mike Rosen, Assistant Town Manager since 2015, is leaving Bedford to take a new position as Town Manager in Tolland, Connecticut. As he prepared to depart, Rosen said “I have nothing but good things to say about Bedford. This has been “the” experience of my career and has solidified my passion for local government. I have a vast appreciation for all my colleagues and the many volunteers I have worked with.”
Rosen said among his proudest accomplishments is the part he played in continuing Bedford’s affordable housing efforts. In 2017 Bedford was named a “Housing Hero” by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership for its sustained efforts to achieve a balance of affordable housing in town. Rosen said he enjoyed working closely with the Capital Expenditures Committee where he revamped the capital report whose objective is to make the budget easily understandable to the general public. Rosen commented that he learned a lot from working with two different Town Managers – about three years with former Town Manager Rick Reed and about one year with current Manager Sarah Stanton. “Rick Reed taught me to be an ambassador, to be accountable, and to be available.” Rosen served as interim Town Manager for about two months before Stanton was appointed and found that to be a learning experience as well. “You’re always on,” he said. “The phone rings in the middle of the night.” Although brief, he felt that that interim experience helped prepare him for the new role he will undertake in Tolland.
The town of Tolland, Connecticut, has a population of about 15,000 and Rosen described it as having “a strong Town Manager structure.” Rather than a Board of Selectmen, it operates under a Town Council. There is no Town Meeting as we know it but instead an annual ballot process to pass the proposed budget known as the Budget Referendum. Pre-meetings to inform residents are held leading up to the voting day, but if the budget fails to pass subsequent votes are held every two weeks until the budget is finally affirmed.
Asked if he had any advice for someone coming into his position here, Rosen said: “Be open and transparent. Be prepared to listen to all points of view. Be visible and immerse yourself in the life of the town.”
Town Manager Sarah Stanton said, “I’m incredibly happy for Mike. Tolland is lucky to get him. I wish him the best in his new position. Mike immersed himself in the life of Bedford, and I am sure he will do that in Tolland as well.” Asked about plans to fill the now-vacant Assistant Town Manager position, Stanton said plans at present are incomplete, and various options are being explored.
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