The members of the Wareham Board of Selectmen have different goals for 2014 but they all agree the town is in the best shape it's been in years.

"The difference between five years ago and today is night and day," Selectman Steve Holmes said.

In separate interviews the selectmen said the current board has worked to clean up the mess of previous years and cultivate a healthy environment for the town workers, the community and the selectmen to operate and interact with each other. No small amount of that work was done in 2013.

"The board had a reputation for being very contentious," Selectman Judy Whiteside said. "2013 started off pretty bleakly but it got better. The fiscal situation was really bad, the working relationship with the school was bad and we didn't have a full-time administrator at the start of the year."

The hiring of new Town Administrator Derek Sullivan was something all the selectmen highlighted as major improvement.

"He gives us the stability the town needs moving forward," said Selectman Peter Teitelbaum.

Teitelbaum said in 2014 he wants to continue the good relations the board has developed with the finance and school committees.

"All three groups need to work together on budget issues so the town meeting has all the information it needs to vote on the budget," he said.

Holmes said planning the fiscal year 2015 budget would be the biggest challenge to the board this year.

"You have to make due with what you got," he said.

Selectman Alan Slavin added the need for transparency when the board deals with the budget and all other issues.

"We want to make the attempt to solve the issues up front and let the public know what's going on ahead of time," said Selectman Alan Slavin. "We're a proactive rather than a reactive board."

Teitelbaum also noted the importance of securing the Cape Flyer Service stop on Merchant's Way this summer.

"We're seeing the fruits of having a better climate for business," Teitelbaum said.

Holmes also emphasized the importance of bringing new businesses into Wareham. He said in his mind, the big goal for 2014 is increasing revenue and getting people back to work.

He pointed to numerous construction projects such as the Marriott hotel at Rosebrook Place in West Wareham and the new Wal-Mart by Wareham Crossing. But Holmes said, "going forward the biggest project is the growth and development of Bay Pointe Club," Holmes said.

Stone Street Hospitality bought the property in February 2012 and Holmes said they've done a great job reinvigorating the property, especially the golf course. He said their proposed housing development, which is slated to add 115 homes to the area, is estimated to add about $500,000 in tax revenue.

In addition to new homes, Whiteside is concerned about the homes already in Wareham, particularly getting mobile homes counted as affordable housing.

"At the end of the day we're more than just five individuals we're an entity with a common goal," Slavin said.

He said that his New Year's resolution was to continue to work with his fellow selectmen and make Wareham a better place for everyone.

Teitelbaum said one personal goal he has for the new year is to get re-elected, but also, "I want to lose 20 pounds this year so my doctor stops yelling at me."