PHOTO BY SPENSER HASAK
Michael Scola, the new facilities director for Swampscott, discusses the areas he will oversee at the high school.
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — Hoping to save money and boost efficiency, the town’s first shared facilities director started work this week.
Reading resident Michael Scola is pioneering the $92,000 a year management job that will be shared between Town Hall and the school department.
While Scola will be based at Swampscott High School, he will oversee maintenance, capital budgets and daily operations for all of the community’s public buildings.
Voters approved funding for the post at Town Meeting last year. The goal of the new position is to improve services and save taxpayers money.
“I was intrigued,” said Scola. “I was fortunate enough to be selected and I can put my stamp on facilities management.”
Prior to landing the new job, Scola served as building systems manager at the Massachusetts Trial Court for a decade. He maintained the state’s courthouses, oversaw the maintenance staff and managed contracts for the trial courts.
Town Administrator Thomas Younger said Scola will also oversee bidding for the town’s capital projects. Recently, Younger said the fire chief managed an emergency generator project for Town Hall while an elevator plan for the library was overseen by the Department of Public Works director. If the facilities director post had been in place at the time, Scola would have handled both.
Younger cited his new hire’s six years of private maintenance management experience, various state licenses and certifications in construction work, and his education as factors for hiring Scola.
He holds an undergraduate and master’s degree from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. His graduate degree is in facilities management.
School Superintendent Pamela Angelakis also cited Scola’s experience in facilities management as the reason for her decision to hire him.
“He has experience and knowledge of operations including mechanics, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and he is the right fit for our community,” she said. “I look forward to his experience and knowledge helping to guide the district with maintenance projects and schedules for our aging schools. This is critical while we continue to pursue the realities of our school building needs and another proposed project in the future.”
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.