Earlier this fall the COA Director position became vacant upon the departure of the former Director. The Town has been working to fill the position over the past few months. As a result of the interview process, an assessment center, background check, references and other pre-employment requirements Town Manager Blythe Robinson recommended Ms. Janice Nowicki be appointed to the position.
Nowicki has a Master’s degree in counseling, teaches sociology courses at Clark University in Aging, and Death and Dying, and has approximately ten years’ experience as a COA Director in Leicester and in Littleton.
The interview panel consisted of a COA Board Member, the COA Director from Bellingham, MA, a Personnel Board Member, and Blythe Robinson. A member of the COA Board attended the Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday to show support for the appointment.
Robinson noted, “The COA Director, through managing the Upton Center provides services to seniors, but also has a mandate to assist any of our residents who may be in need. In order to properly do so, that person needs to have the right balance of background and experience, but also the empathy and people skills to assist people who may need our help.” Blythe wrote in her letter of recommendation to the Board of Selectmen, “It is clear to me from speaking with Janice as well as her references in the two communities that she has served that she has these attributes. She was described as having great empathy for people, and the ability to handle any type of personal situation that came her way.”
The Board of Selectmen accepted Robinson’s recommendation to appoint Janice Nowicki at the December 18 meeting and Nowicki will start on January 6th.
UPTON DAILY 