Town Manager Appoints Kimberly Fish As Housing Coordinator
Kimberly Fish has been appointed Falmouth’s full-time housing coordinator, filling a position that has been vacant since Carla Feroni’s resignation at the end of November.
“I’m delighted to confirm that we have appointed Ms. Kim Fish as our new housing coordinator for the Town of Falmouth,” Town Manager Julian M. Suso said at the select board meeting on Monday, April 25. “It’s an excellent promotional opportunity for Kim.”
Mr. Suso said Ms. Fish has been an anchor in the office of town counsel, where she has worked as a paralegal since 2001.
“I have loved working as the town’s paralegal, so it was a really big decision to make and with the retirement of Frank, it was hard because I’ve been there for so long and I love the job,” Ms. Fish told the select board. “Working with Maura [O’Keefe] has been lovely so that has been a real pull, but what a wonderful opportunity to work and assist with a much-needed thing in our community.”
Ms. Fish said she has a lot to learn, but is up for the task.
“I’ve been studying, so I’m ready and I want to thank you all for the opportunity,” she said. “I was born and raised here, raised my daughter here and I love this community and I’m excited to stay working in Falmouth and address the needs that are very important that our community is facing.”
Board member Nancy R. Taylor said she has had the opportunity to work with Ms. Fish over the past year and thinks she is an “excellent choice” for the position.
Chairman Douglas C. Brown agreed.
“If you apply yourself the way you have in your present position, then I’m sure we’ll do well,” he said.
In a phone interview with The Enterprise, Ms. Fish said she is looking forward to diving into the affordable housing community and making a difference.
“There’s such a need for affordable housing in our community,” she said. “I’m grateful to have this opportunity to assist with this important issue. My first priority is to meet with other town departments that are working on current projects so I can get caught up on them. Then I’d love to meet with various affordable housing entities in town as well. I want to collaborate and be available to assist in any way possible. That’s what I did as the town’s paralegal, so I really hope to continue that.”
July would have marked Ms. Fish’s 21st year as the town’s paralegal. In that role, she said she has had experience dealing with affordable housing issues, specifically the legal aspects such as funding, contracts and local initiative program applications.
“It’s not a foreign language to me but the details of [what] exactly the hands-on [activities are] on a daily basis, there will be a learning curve for me, but I’m very much up to the task,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it actually. I’ve already spoken to some of the employees over at town hall and they’re extremely supportive and will get me caught up, which I’m excited about. There will be a lot of support there as well to help me through.”
Collaboration is important to Ms. Fish, and something she hopes to continue to do as she transitions from her role as town paralegal to her role as housing coordinator.
“We should all collaborate and work together and I think we do a good job here in Falmouth of doing that,” she said.
Ms. Fish’s first official day in office as housing coordinator will be May 16.