From the White House to Grafton Municipal Center

Kevin J. Mizikar has been spending some of his time these days watching DVDs.

But these aren't the kind you get from Netflix. The native of suburban Pittsburgh has been studying recordings of previous Grafton Town Meetings to get a feel for the uniquely New England form of government.

Mizikar was recently hired for the new position of assistant . He started a few weeks ago, right in the thick of budget time and Town Meeting and election preparation.

"It's a busy time,'' he said. "But I'm glad I don't have to wait'' long for the first Town Meeting.

Mizikar arrives in Grafton with an array of government experience. He was the economic development director for Mount Holly, N.J., budget analyst for the U.S. Department of Energy and an intern and finance analyst for the Finance Department of the City of Morgantown, W.V. 

The most eye-catching portion of his resume involves his work with the White House. Early in his career, he was selected to complete an information technology project under the management agenda of President George W. Bush.

At the age of 24, he worked out of the nearby Office of Management and Budget but had access to the White House and was able to visit the West and East wings.

"To be able to access the White House inside the black iron gates ... I pinched myself''  he said. "I soaked it all in.''

He applied for the Grafton job because of his long-standing passion for local government. "I'm just energized by the ability to make progress on a daily basis,'' he said.

"Everybody thinks government is slow, and sometimes there is a reason for that, but we can impact lives on a day-to-day basis.''

Mizikar said it is "an honor'' to be the town's first assistant town administrator. He looks at his job as a way to implement some of Town Administrator Timothy McInerney's ideas.

He plans to "take those ideas that he has for the town and put them into action.''

Mizikar has been put in charge of sanitation-related issues, including pay as you throw, trash pickup and recycling. He also hopes to help town departments with human resources-related issues and with finances.

Improving communication and outreach is a major piece of his job, he said. He hopes to get out regularly to meet with business owners and residents to hear their concerns and ideas.

He wants the community to know he is available to hear their concerns. He also would like to hear about possible solutions or new approaches for issues in town.

"Open communication is critical,'' he said.

He can be reached at 508-839-5335 or mizikark@grafton-ma.gov.