For the first time in twenty-eight years the Milton ballot will not list Kevin Sorgi as a candidate for Treasurer & Collector. After nearly three decades in office, Kevin Sorgi has chosen to move on.

That amount of time and experience gives one a knowledge and perspective about the both the office and the town that is unique. Kevin agreed to sit down and do an exit interview, sharing his thoughts about the office, town government, and lessons learned. We met a man who is blunt and independent-minded with a head for numbers and a passionate heart for the town.

About Kevin Sorgi

“You never know what’s going to happen,” says Sorgi.

Kevin Sorgi is a lifelong resident of town. He attended St Agatha’s elementary school and graduated from Milton High in 1965. He went to Northeastern, where he received a BS in Education and History. Upon graduation, his hope was to become a teacher, but at that time (early 70’s) “there were more teachers than students.” He secured a position with Dun and Bradstreet. He performed well both in the office and on the softball field.

But then came a Sorgi moment: when offered a promotion, he asked, “What if I don’t want to be promoted?” Informed he would need to leave the firm, he replied, “OK.”  So Sorgi left Dun and Bradstreet and became a Milton police officer.

He served on the force from 1972 to1981, where he freely admits his arrest record was not especially remarkable. Instead, he points to his work with the Juvenile Citation Program as being on the plus side of that balance sheet.

As time went on, his personal situation and responsibilities were not compatible with a police officer’s schedule.

When the office of town treasurer became available, he decided to run. Sorgi quips, “I don’t think anyone grows up wanting to be Town Treasurer.” But he won the election. He would win re-election for the next 27 terms.

What’s the job

According to Sorgi, becoming Town Treasurer “is like learning a foreign language.” The outgoing treasurer took Sorgi under his wing and showed him the way, something Sorgi is committed to doing for his successor.

The Treasurer/Collector is responsible for:

• taking receipt of all monies which come into the town. These include but are not limited to: Real Estate Taxes, Personal Property, Motor Vehicle & Boat Excise Taxes, and  Water/Sewer Bills.
• paying all bills, including payroll
• administering the employee’s health and life insurance programs
• working with the Assessor and Accountant’s department to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the Town finances.
• investing the Town’s funds in accordance with guidelines imposed by Ch.44, Sec. 55, Massachusetts General L
• managing the Town’s property which is in Tax Title or Foreclosure

On that last point, there are very few properties under foreclosure, maybe 75 out of 8300, according to Sorgi. Usually they come about due to illness, death, or college debt and are typically temporary deliquencies. Regarding investing the town’s funds, Sorgi states there are three priorities. In order of importance they are: safety, liquidity, and yield. Approximately $86 million flows through the town coffers on an annual basis.

From Sorgi’s perspective, “the trickiest part of the job is managing the cash flow.” There is the $3 million a month in payroll, and then there are vendor payments which are very difficult to project.

But while that may be the tricky part, it is clearly the contact with the public that has kept Sorgi in office for so long. “I spend a lot of time with the public. I listen to [their] problems, questions, and concerns. People know that they have someone here who will listen and respond. And that is very important for them to feel about their government.”

It is that commitment to the town and its people that is the likely reason prior Town Administrator David Colton selected Sorgi to assist when Standard & Poor was re-evaluating Milton’s bond rating. Sorgi squired them around town and showed them “the strength of Milton: Indian Cliffs, Curry College, Turner’s Pond.” Standard & Poor gave Milton’s bond rating an upgrade.

Sorgi claims to have it pretty easy. When he speaks to Town Treasurers from other communities, “I can’t relate to what they are talking about. We have good citizens. They pay their bills on time; they maintain their properties, and they show town pride.”

Joys & frustrations

When asked about the joys and frustrations of being Town Treasurer, Sorgi was direct and to the point.

On the minus side; “Good work cannot be rewarded. We promote mediocrity. . . and that can breed animus and resentment.” He attributes this to town government being town government, politics being politics and unions being unions. And what about his mistakes? “Too many to remember.”

On the plus side; “I am grateful to live here and work here and appreciate what a good town we have. We are fortunate. . . it is a good town for children, married couples, and seniors. Despite all the differences that exist as a town, we are able to find common ground. Everyone works for what is in the best interests of the town.”

And about his achievements? “The school building project . . . amazing that we got it done. They’re beautiful. There were others but that dwarfs them all.”

About appointing rather than electing a Town Treasurer

Early this year the Warrant Committee was facing a decision: Should the Town Treasurer be appointed by the Board of Selectmen or elected by the town. The committee voted 10-2 against having an  article on the Feb. 23 Special Town Meeting Warrant proposing that the Town Treasurer be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. At the time Chairman Tom Hurley said, “We don’t know if it’s a good idea, frankly.” The Selectmen also voted on the measure, and they also split: Kathy Fagan and Marion McEttrick were in favor while John Shields was opposed.

Sorgi’s point of view on this is clear: the position should be an elected one, because that is the only way to guarantee that the individual holding the position can be independent. “You need somebody who is independent.” And independent Sorgi is. He suspects that is to the chagrin of many town officials. As it is, “I am a fly in the ointment. They cannot ignore me and they cannot avoid me. I don’t have to keep my boss happy.” He works with the Town Accountant, David Grab. The accountant is an appointment made by the Board of Selectmen. The accountant and treasurer function as a check and balance against each other in Sorgi’s view.  And that is a good thing. If the Treasurer were to also be appointed by the Selectmen that healthy contention would be lost since both positions would be serving at the pleasure of the same authority.

He did have an alternative proposal: Establish a Board of Audit & Finance. The board would be comprised of 5 individuals elected by the town residents. They would serve 5 year terms. The Board of Audit & Finance would appoint both the Town Accountant and the Town Treasurer. The accountant’s appointment would require approval of the Board of Selectmen, and the town treasurer would require approval of town meeting.

Town Government Improvements

Kevin Sorgi is a not a big fan of Town Meeting as a form of government. It is large, unwieldy, and difficult to hold anyone accountable. “Decentralization enables people to push things off.  A lot of people want to lead the parade. . .  there are not a lot who want to lead the charge.” says Sorgi. As for Town Meeting itself, “It’s a disaster. . . a potpourri of indifference.”

His solution? Cut the number of town meeting members down to a small congress of 33, three representatives elected from each of the eleven precincts to serve 3 year terms. Subcommittees would be composed of members from this elected body. By reducing the number of town meeting members from the current ~26 to 3 per precinct, we will get “hotly contested races.”

Sorgi is not alone in his frustration with Town Meeting as a form of government. In January 2008, Braintree moved from a representative town meeting form of government to a mayor and town council. Randolph is also examining a move from representative town meeting to a Town Manager form of government. Officials are hopeful of putting it up for a vote in this April’s election.

Lastly, he tossed out the idea of forming a Town Government Study Committee. A Committee that would provide a forum for people to voice complaints and be heard.

Sorgi admitted that as he has gotten slightly longer in the tooth, it has become easier for him to field a question and honestly say, “I don’t know.”

Regarding his proposals he acknowledges, “I don’t know if they are the right solutions; but they warrant a discussion.”

Advice for the incoming Treasurer

Consistent with statements made throughout our conversation, when asked if he had advice for the incoming treasurer, Sorgi didn’t pause, “Be your own person. Don’t depend on anybody. You do not want to be put in the situation of compromising your principles.”

Come April 29th, the town of Milton will have a new Town Treasurer and Collector. It will be one of the following: Janet Lorden, James McAuliffe or Charlie McCarthy.

Sorgi reiterated that whoever it is, he is committed to sitting down with him or her for two weeks to orient them to the job he’s had for 28 years. Whoever you are, please pay attention!

Thank you Kevin Sorgi for your service to our town. You are no small reason why my town [Milton] matters!