NORTH ATTLEBORO - Town Administrator Mark Fisher has "exceeded expectations" during his first six months on the job.

Selectmen gave Fisher high marks in his annual evaluation, which the board was required to complete by the end of February. The score on Fisher's evaluation will be used as the board considers his pay raise for the next fiscal year.

Fisher received an overall score of 2.47 out of three points on the review, Selectmen Chairman William Moffitt said. Fisher was reviewed by each selectman individually, and those rankings were compiled into a composite review.

On the evaluation, selectmen had the option of awarding zero points for an unsatisfactory job, one point for needs improvement, two points for meets expectations and three points for exceeds expectations. A composite score of 2.25 or higher meant that Fisher exceeded expectations, Moffitt said.

Fisher was ranked in six areas. He received his highest scores in management areas, and his lowest scores in public relations and customer service. The composite evaluation showed Fisher received 2.36 in service and support to selectmen; 2.48 in budget preparation and administration; 2.6 in managerial skills; 2.62 in human resources management; 2.28 in public relations and customer service; and 2.48 in goal setting and achievement.

"In my view, this is a good start, considering Mr. Fisher returned to a new cast of department heads to work with, a new software system that did not allow him to use the bells and whistles he was accustomed to using, especially in terms of public preparation, and some interesting zoning-enforcement issues," Moffitt said.

Selectwoman Marjorie Kraskouskas said the board and Fisher set a large number of goals.

"The goals that were developed were aggressive," Kraskouskas said. "Most people would not have signed off on them. But if you look over them, all but one have been touched on."

Fisher thanked the board for their comments and input, and asked to meet with members individually to discuss any specific areas for improvement.

Fisher was appointed last June after months of controversy. Some selectmen and other town officials believed Fisher, a former selectman, was getting preferential treatment for the job.