Marion officials have a plan to organize repairs for town-owned buildings – hire a facilities manager.

In the last few months, Selectman Jody Dickerson and Norman Hills, a member of the Capital Improvement Planning Committee, conducted a survey of 11 town-owned buildings.

“Our concern is the maintenance, or lack of maintenance, of some of the buildings,” Dickerson said during the Selectmen meeting on Tuesday. “This is something the town has to address before minor repairs turn into major repairs.”

To help organize repairs on the buildings, Dickerson and Hills have suggested hiring a facilities manager to oversee the care of the buildings as well as manage and appropriate funds needed to complete any repairs.

“This person could prioritize what needs to be done and how much it will cost,” Hills said.

Town Administrator Paul Dawson agreed. Dawson said many of the town’s officials have considered this option in the past, but added that not much progress has been made.

“With the value of the buildings and the amount of work that needs to be done, it calls for someone with a background. We need someone who can react to bad situations and prevent them,” Dawson said.

Selectman John Henry agreed.

“It’s time to centralize the management,” Henry said. “There is no records management of when things were done. This is something we should have ready to bring to Town Meeting.”

Dawson suggested meeting with the Finance Committee to research how the town could budget for a facilities manager salary.

“The position really pays for itself because they can prevent issues,” Dawson said.

Dickerson added that many of the neighboring towns, including Rochester, do have a facilities manager position.

“It has worked out very well for them,” Dickerson said.

Of the needed repairs, Hills said, “You nibble away at it and don’t try to do it all at once.”