A Q&A with the Town Manager
The town manager is the linchpin of the council–manager form of government, connecting elected officials to the town’s staff.
Check out our Q&A with Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson:
What are the general responsibilities of the town manager?
The job has four main parts. On the policy side, I work with the town board, providing advice, recommendations and options on policy issues to help the board make well-informed decisions.
Operationally, I spend a lot of time coordinating with departments. I make sure the departments have the resources needed to provide services to the community and to make progress on top priorities.
As town manager, I also serve as a bridge between the town board and staff. It is my duty to update the mayor and commissioners on key issues, progress on identified priorities, unexpected problems, emergencies and opportunities.
Finally, the town manager is the budget officer. I work with departments and the budget and finance teams to prepare the three-year budget and seven-year capital improvement program.
What does a day in the life of a town manager look like?
The one constant is that my day rarely works out as scheduled. We’re in a growing and vibrant community with a lot of old infrastructure, so there is never a shortage of unexpected issues that come up. Fortunately, we have exceptionally dedicated employees who do a great job of assessing situations to determine the best way to respond when out-of-the-ordinary things arise.
What do you find most enjoyable about being a town manager?
I enjoy seeing other people succeed. I’m regularly in awe of the amazing things our town employees accomplish. There are so many great examples that have been shared over the years through the town’s awards program. As a small town, Hillsborough is fortunate to have so many excellent employees who have the skills and experience to take on positions in much larger organizations but choose to stay here — I’m very grateful for that.
What do you find to be most challenging?
There are so many tough issues in local government. As hard as we try to find win-win solutions, it can’t always be done. Then, we must pivot to find the least bad option. It’s hard, but it’s the reality. Being the bearer of bad news is not fun but an important part of the job.
What has been the most memorable event of your tenure with the town?
That’s a tough one as we’ve had some major weather events as well as financial challenges over the years. One of the biggest challenges was when Flynt Fabrics shut down. This textile facility used about one-third of our water. Overnight, our revenues crashed and expenditure surged, leaving us with a massive deficit just as we were paying debt on the West Fork Eno Reservoir.
Indirectly, this led to me getting married. A water and sewer advisory task force was formed to investigate the situation due to the subsequent rate increases that were required. Near the end of the task force’s mission, one member, Patsy Spencer, said she worked with a cool lady and thought we’d be a good match. She did an email introduction; and about two years later, Chris and I were married.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
My all-time favorite thing to do is running, but my older knees are not cooperating. My main hobby is autocross. I’ve been doing it for the past 30 years, competing in Sports Car Club of America events in the Pro Solo and National Tour Series. These are time trial events where you navigate the course as fast as you can. The courses are usually on airport runways or large stadium lots. My current car is a 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder. It’s not very fast but handles great and is a lot of fun to drive. Autocross is safer and more affordable than other types of racing.
