New Exeter manager's job: A look homeward

EXETER — Who says you can't go home again?

Certainly not Exeter's new town manager, Russ Dean. His move to the town offices on Front Street feels as comfortable and natural to him as any he has made in his life - and for good reason. This is his home turf.

The 35-year-old grew up just down the road in Stratham, where his parents and sister still live, and he graduated from Exeter High School with the class of 1987.

And although he has worked for most of his career in Massachusetts, Dean nevertheless commuted all the while from Portsmouth, an indication of the ties he feels to this part of New England.

"I have an incredible affection for the area," said Dean. "It's a privilege for me to provide a leadership role in improving the quality of life for this town."

Dean officially took over the management of town government last week, after having spent the month of March learning the ropes from former Town Manager George Olson.

He has what he calls an "open-door policy" at his first-floor office.

"I think you can learn a lot from the general public," he said. "People in general have great ideas, and I'm an idea person myself."

That quality may stand him in good stead as he navigates such issues as the town's future water needs, the threat of river flooding, plans by the Squamscott Community Commons to establish a YMCA in the high school annex building, the future of Exeter District Court and downtown parking, to name a few.

Already, Dean has been forthright in saying that he intends to look at the possibility of putting the issue of a treatment plant before voters for a third time. He played an active role last week in decisions to open the gate at the Great Dam in an effort to mitigate flooding problems for riverfront property owners. He traveled to Concord to testify before the state Executive Council in support of funds for the Downeaster. And he has met with Tracey McGrail, chairwoman of the Downtown Parking Task Force.

He looks forward to other new challenges as well, such as being involved in upgrading the town's information technology. An information technology employee will be hired in July, charged with inventorying town-owned computers and assessing the computer network at the town offices. That will involve a review of all the software the town uses, including e-mail, and an update of the town's Web site.

Dean calls himself "a kid from the computer age," and it was as such that he was given responsibility over the electronic and computer applications of town government in both Needham and Reading, Mass., where he worked previously.

And, according to his former boss, he should be able to handle all these matters with a smile and with grace.

"We had a three-person management team," said Kate Fitzpatrick, the town administrator in Needham, where Dean served as an assistant town administrator. "For one the glass was half empty, and for one the glass was half full. Russ's glass always overflowed. He was always in a good mood, always willing to help out. Everybody loved him."

Dean's responsibilities in Needham included human resources, in charge of benefits, training and employee relations, a position that Fitzpatrick said was "perfect for him."

"He has a really good way with people, and you could see it in how he performed his job," she said.

"That background in human resources is huge to me," said Keith Noyes, director of Exeter's Department of Public Works. "I had a personnel matter with one of my employees earlier this week, and I talked with him about it. He had good insight. It's something I appreciate."

Noyes said he also appreciates the leadership Dean has shown with regard to the water treatment plant issue, and the "fresh perspective" he has brought to the table. "He said, ?Don't get discouraged. You've got to look at it again.? That's been a big help to all of us."

Noyes was among several people who said they're impressed by Dean's intellect.

"He's a quick study," said McGrail, president of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, who said she "put him on the spot" in asking him to travel to Concord with her to testify on the Downeaster funding. Although she primed him with information, she said, she still wasn't sure how he would perform. "I didn't know how he was going to do. But he picked things up quickly, and he was savvy enough to know how to present his case. He spoke like a veteran."

McGrail also has met with Dean on the topic of downtown parking, in the wake of voters? approval of a transportation fund and their disapproval of metering the Water Street parking lot.

"My question is, how fast is he willing to push it? I'm hopeful he's the right person for the job. But we can't have somebody who says, ?We need to study this some more.? We need action. This has been going on for a long time. So, we?ll see."

Selectmen Board Chairman Lionel Ingram agreed that it's still too early in Dean's administration to make sweeping statements about the new town manager. He compared Dean's current status to the "honeymoon period" of a new president's first 100 days in office.

"No one is going to be unhappy with him now, because they don't know him," said Ingram. "He hasn't been handed anything tough yet."

Still, Ingram said, Dean "used his time with George (Olson) to his and the town's advantage. He's slipped in quickly, and he understands the issues awfully well. I know the town employees have been pleased with him."

Ingram said he's impressed with Dean's "spirit," adding that he's looking forward to working with him.

Selectman Joe Pace, who represented the board on the search committee for a new town manager, said he's extremely enthused about Dean's tenure. Like others, he cited the town manager's "quick wit," and said Dean's human resources background will stand him in good stead as he deals with union contracts, personnel matters and the budget. "There's likely not anything we can throw at him that he can't handle."

Pace said one of the deciding factors in selecting Dean for the job was his long-standing ties to the community. Usually, he said, a town manager would not only have to learn the ins and outs of the municipality's government, but also become acclimated to the town itself.

"The learning curve for Russ is not as steep as it would be for someone ?from away,? as we like to say in New Hampshire," said Pace. "No one has to tell him where High Street is. I mean, he went to the Ioka on dates in high school, just like me. That's a tremendous advantage for him and for us."

Dean, for his part, made the following statement:

"Come down and see me. Give me a call. My door is always open."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: New Exeter manager's job: A look homeward