Dalton approves three-year contract for new Town Manager Eric Anderson

DALTON — Eric Anderson will take over as town manager next month. The Select Board entered negotiations with Anderson on Monday night, agreeing to a three-year contract with a salary of $142,500. Anderson will start Nov. 17 and will be working with interim Town Manager Henry H. “Terry” Williams III for a training period. “I’m looking forward to starting,” Anderson said. “It’s a beautiful place to live … The Town Hall’s got a great staff and I’m looking forward to working with them.” The town has been looking for a full-time town manager to take over after Williams departs. Williams’ contract runs to Nov. 21. Anderson has held his current position as town administrator for Andover, Conn., for six years. He also has served leadership roles in the military and was an elected official on the Andover Planning and Zoning Commission, and briefly on the town's Select Board. The posted salary range for the position was $135,000 to $155,000. Former Town Manager Tom Hutcheson's salary for fiscal year 2025 was $128,627, according to Williams. Before Hutcheson, former Town Manager Kenneth Walto earned $114,815 a year when he retired. The Select Board unanimously selected Anderson as full-time town manager on Sept. 30. Three finalists — Lisa Blackmer, Jonathan Elwell and Anderson — were interviewed by four of the five Select Board members on Sept. 29, with member Marc Strout recusing himself. At their meeting on Oct. 6, the Select Board extended Williams’ contract to Nov. 21. It was the second time in two weeks that Williams’ contract had been extended. The town has been seeking a full-time town manager since Hutcheson announced his retirement in February. The Select Board appointed Williams to the interim town manager position on June 2. During the meeting on Monday, Williams also reported that Air Partners installed four air monitoring stations on Saturday for testing related to the Berkshire Concrete Corp. sand mine. There is a monitor behind the town garage on Gulf Road, and the other three are at residential properties that are adjacent to the sand mine. The monitors will be in place for a nine-month period with a midterm and final report, according to Select Board member Tony Pagliarulo. The Dalton Clean Air Coalition and Clean Air Committee continue to push for stronger oversight of Berkshire Concrete Corp. — which is owned by Petricca Industries — whose sand-mining operation off Florence and Prospect streets and Raymond Drive has drawn renewed complaints about health, safety and quality of life from nearby residents.