Mounting frustration over Youth Advocate position controversy

Feb 25, 2020

Members of the Youth Commission raised concerns at a meeting on February 24 about a new job description and title proposed by Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes for the town’s Youth Advocate position, which has been vacant for more than a year.

In a draft job description proposal written by MacInnes, the position would be titled Human Services Director, in contrast to the Youth Commission’s proposed title of Youth and Family Advocate. The new position would earn a salary of $80,256 to $105,950.

Commission members questioned the title change and the salary, which commission members said was unduly high. The previous job holder made about $72,000, according to commission members.

“We don’t need a human services director, we’re just looking for support for residents,” said commission member Erin McAlonan.

“People are going to say, ‘That’s a lot of money,’” commission member Renee Desroches said. “He’s setting us up for failure.’’

Committee members also questioned the proposed educational requirements of the position and other specifics in the wording.

“Shawn is convinced it’s a new position,” commission chair Jamie Jacquart said.

Creating a new position requires Town Meeting approval. Commission members have argued that the position already exists and has for decades.

Dartmouth’s Youth Advocate works to support young people in vulnerable situations, such as abuse victims or those whose families are affected by issues like addiction, homelessness and poverty.

The Youth Advocate position has stood vacant following the January 2019 departure of Jennifer Cabral.

After she left, committee members had suggested changing the position’s title to Youth and Family Advocate to broaden the impact of the job.

But that proposed change raised questions about whether it constituted a new position, which would require a Town Meeting approval.

Committee members said Monday that the addition of the word ‘family’ would merely broaden support services already offered by the position.

In a discussion of the issue at the January 27 Select Board meeting, commission members and town residents urged the board to fill the position, which they said filled a vital need for residents requiring support.

But MacInnes suggested the position was redundant, as there are outside programs with more resources that provide similar services.

“The demand frankly wasn’t very high,” he said at the time.

Community members at the January 27 meeting and commission members Monday said that the position served a crucial support role in the community.

Commission members Monday were visibly frustrated that the position remains unfilled.

“I think it’s sad,” Desroches said, “all the people we could have helped have gone without.”

“Our town has a lost a year, and now years,” said commission member Christina Febbroriello. “It’s ludicrous, I’m so incensed by this.”