Barbara Bard settles in at her new desk in the Agawam mayor’s office on July 16.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Lederer
AGAWAM — After 17 years working as City Council clerk, Barbara Bard has taken on a second position in town government: chief of staff to Mayor Chris Johnson.
“I am quite honored that he has the confidence in me to handle it,” Bard said.
Before town government, Bard worked for MassMutual and as a local lawyer. She was a stay-at-home mother when former City Council President Donald Rheault hired her to be clerk of the council in 2007. Rheault, who Bard said will “always hold a special place in [her] heart,” trained her. She took the job because it had a 30-hour work week, but also because she had roots in Agawam.
“I’ve been in this town basically my whole life. I know people. I know the town and it was just something that seemed very exciting to me,” she said.
The clerk of the City Council handles its administrative tasks: creating and posting agendas, typing meeting minutes, taking roll call at meetings, and managing the councilors’ schedules.
“I do take pride in making sure each 11 councilors have what they need to effectively do their job,” she said.
Johnson offered Bard her new position after the previous chief of staff left. She said her strong bond with the mayor is why she was offered it. She graduated from Agawam High School in the same class as Johnson and worked with him while he was a councilor.
She said she’s maintained good relationships with all the councilors she’s worked with.
“I’m incredibly proud of the relationships I’ve maintained while being council mom,” she said.
Her new duties include handling the day-to-day operations of Johnson’s office, coordinating the relationships between him and the department heads and acting as his representative. She predicts the new high school will keep him busy, so she will be in his place at events like ribbon cuttings.
Taking on both positions gives her more hours, but will also streamline the legislative process in town, she said. The mayor’s office generates some of the resolutions the City Council votes on; serving in both roles makes her a part of the process for that office, she said. It’s also good for handling complaints. Originally, councilors had to bring them to her for her to pass on to the mayor’s office. Now, as she works for the mayor’s office, it will take less time for residents’ concerns to be heard by the office that can solve them.
“There are a lot of legislative similarities between both that I want to keep, and I think they’ll be really beneficial in this new merged role,” she said.
In a press release, Johnson said that “Barbara brings extensive knowledge about the operations of the city government, and she knows Agawam as she grew up and raised her family here. She cares deeply about Agawam and is well respected by all. I look forward to working with Barbara in her new role as chief of staff.”
Bard began her position on June 26.
“I’m settling in fine, but I know I have a lot to learn,” she said.
