SWAMPSCOTT — The town has announced the appointment of Jean-Paul Plouffe as the new Director of Assessment.

Plouffe’s career in property valuation spans more than 35 years, with the last 25 as a lead assessor for the municipalities of West Newbury and Westford. After spending the last four years in retirement, the Reading resident decided to return to the field.

“Swampscott just happened to come across my radar when I was looking around, and I figured it’s what I know, it’s what I’ve been doing,” Plouffe said. “I think I can bring something to the town and produce what you need done here.”

Plouffe is succeeding Cheryl Moschella, who resigned in August due to her disagreement with some of the actions taken by the Board of Assessors, specifically abatements authorized to residents in the vicinity of the new elementary school on Whitman Road. 

“I don’t play politics,” Plouffe said. “People would come in when I was in Westford, accusing me of playing politics and my answer to them was I didn’t know who they were and I didn’t care.”

He envisions his role as primarily advisory to the Board of Assessors. He described his job as valuing real and personal property based on the town’s tax levy. Like Moschella, Plouffe was hired as a part-time employee.

Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald expressed his enthusiasm for the hire of Plouffe.

“He has a tremendous amount of experience,” Fitzgerald said. “I really do feel as though Jean-Paul has every bit of experience to help us… I think he has the background to really address some of the issues we’re dealing with.”

Plouffe received unanimous endorsement from the three members of the Board of Assessors, with Chair Tasia Vasiliou saying his recommendations thus far have aligned with the Department of Revenue.

“I think he’s pretty savvy,” Vasiliou said. “He had all the right answers to our questions… I think he’s just what we need right now.”