By Joseph Edgerton
Staff Writer

Three new employees at Pembroke have started their full-time positions as the town looks toward future development.

Laura Scott began working for the town on a full-time basis on Sept. 19, but the new director of planning and community development has previous Pembroke experience.

"I began part-time work as a planner in the beginning of September, but I filled in from January to June," she said. "I stayed in touch with the planning board, and when the position opened up, I expressed my interest. I'm just happy to be working in such a great community."

She also worked four years with the Central New Hampshire Planning Commission, in addition to the Strafford Regional Planning Commission. Her experience in the former allowed her to serve as an interim town planner for Pembroke.

Scott said the reason Pembroke appealed to her is that it has a small town feel, but great potential for development.

"I want to work with potential developers, and I don't want people to wait months and months for a reply," she said. "Pembroke shouldn't be a bedroom community to Concord or a commuting community to Manchester. People should be coming here to work."

The position has many responsibilities, and in between playing catch-up, Scott summarized a few of them.

"I provide staff support to the planning board and help them process all the necessary paperwork," she said. "We work together to make sure the (development) requests are up to regulations, and we also update regulations. When I'm not doing that, I'm working with the conservation commission and the development committee."

Geoffrey Ruggles, the town's new finance director, started working for Pembroke after he discovered the town as a computer program salesman.

"I had been working for a software vendor, and our programs were used by the town clerk and tax collector," Ruggles said. "I was spending five days a week driving across the state and that was getting to be a bit much. The job opening came up, and I was familiar with the town and its employees, so I applied."

As finance director, Ruggles is responsible for keeping track of the majority of town funds. Although he works with a small staff - just one part-time bookkeeper - he finds satisfaction in his job.

"I think the best part of my job is being able to step in and help with what's going on," he said. "I worked with the capital improvement committee, and they were really appreciative. I like being able to pull budgets together in a reasonable amount of time."

Ruggles was previously employed as a financial software support specialist for MuniSmart Systems, LLC, and prior to that served as a finance director for Gilford.

"One of my professional goals is to maintain the high quality of accountability and to build on it," he said. "I want to meet more residents, and I want to improve on our accounting reporting."

Everett Stone brings more than 38 years of construction and municipal experience in four towns to his job as code enforcement officer in Pembroke. Before joining Pembroke, Stone worked in Weare, Hooksett, East Kingston and Allenstown.

Stone is responsible for inspecting structures for compliance with local building, plumbing and electrical codes, and is another valuable link between developers and town officials.

As of press time, he could not be reached for comment.