DALTON, Mass. — After a long search and salary revision, the town has filled the vacant town planner position.  

 

The post has been vacant since last October and town meeting voted to increase its salary by 11.26 percent to $58,335 when it failed to attract candidates. 

 

The Select Board during its meeting last week approved the appointment of the new Janko Tomasic, who is expected to start on July 10.

 

Tomasic has lived in Western Massachusetts for most of his life and earned his master's degree from the University of Massachusetts' Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning. 

 

One thing that stood out in Tomasic's resume is the fact that he went to a community college and then went to UMass, which is great, Select Board member Marc Strout said. 

 

"I have nothing but gratitude and good things to say about the MassTransfer system for community college to UMass, great program," Tomasic said. 

 

He interned in the Worcester County town of Athol. He said he had looked for a position in a rural community because he grew up in one and it seemed like a step forward that he can build on. 

 

When he came across the position in the Berkshires, he found that not only does it have a natural beauty but the people here are wonderful, he said. 

 

"When you start small you can make a big impact and this is a community that seems like things can get done and I would like to help things get done here," Tomasic said. 

 

"My role is to serve you guys and facilitate and help out as best as I can getting this community what it needs, when it needs it, and how it needs it."