Selectmen incumbent Jody Dickerson said attracting wary business owners would be high on his agenda if voters re-elect him.

“I’ve heard that some developers would love to come into Marion but don’t because the permit process is too cumbersome,” Dickerson said. “I’d like to have any business come into town and say, ‘how can we make this work?’”

Dickerson, the director of the Marion Recreation Department, was born and raised in town. In the 1990s, he was elected to the Board of Selectmen and served on other committees. He was also a Marion police officer and EMT.

After a stint directing a municipal recreation department in New Hampshire, Dickerson moved back to town in 2011. He won a seat on the board the following year.

The outcry that followed a proposal to construct a large CVS pharmacy at the corner of Route 6 and Front Street showed officials that residents want Marion’s character preserved, he said.

If re-elected, Dickerson said creating a panel made of one Selectmen, one Planning Board member and perhaps three business owners should be considered. The panel would be tasked with attracting new business compatible for a small town.

“We need something that would fit in with Marion’s decor,” he said.

During his previous three-year term, Dickerson said the board made strides in several areas.

“We have made some progress in a lot of things,” Dickerson said. “The money we’ve saved so far with the facilities department has been unbelievable.”

Last year, the board created the new department with two full-time employees to repair and maintain Marion’s municipal buildings, which include everything from baseball dugouts to the Music Hall.

The town saved $50,000 by using seasonal employees under the direction of the facilities department when the library was repainted last year. Without the department, the project would have cost an estimated $70,000. Those savings are possible because the department head is qualified to serve as an owner’s project manager under state law.

“And that’s just a small portion of what can be saved,” Dickerson said.

Overall, the town’s fiscal health has never been stronger, he said.

Last year, Marion became one of 31 communities in the state to receive a “AAA” rating from Standard and Poor, a credit risk research firm.

“When the town has to borrow money we get the best rate possible because the town is so well managed,” Dickerson said.

He credited Marion’s financial staff for their hard work.

“Everyone in the finance department has done a superb job,” he said.

Ultimately, Dickerson said he hopes voters send him back so he can continue to serve his hometown.