Adams Selectmen Approve Administrator Search Process
jADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen approved the recommended town administrator search process that it hopes to have wrapped up by April.
The Board of Selectmen's personnel subcommittee brought forth its recommendations Wednesday and asked the full board to approve the process which could be completed within four to six months.
"We are all aware that it is pretty aggressive time to search, interview and hire," Selectwoman Christine Hoyt said. "Some of the dates may change as we go through and this will act as a guide."
Since the departure of former Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco late last year, the personnel subcommittee has been devising a process in which to seek out and hire a new administrator.
With the approval, Hoyt said the actual job will be posted by the end of the week or mid next week. She said the job description itself hasn't changed from three years ago.
From there a screening committee will be formed at the end of the month, which will hold its first meeting in February.
"They will be meeting to establish criteria and matrix and will begin reviewing applications and that would take up most of February," Hoyt said.
Selectman Joseph Nowak said his only gripe with the process is the subcommittee's recommendation to have two Selectmen on the screening committee.
"I personally feel that we have been voted in by people in the community … and I don't think it is fair," Nowak said. "I think there are people out there who will bring us good candidates … I have faith in the people that will be on this committee and our time will come."
There were no selectmen on the last search committee. The board only interviewed the three finalist candidates recommended by the search committee.
Hoyt said semifinalists would be selected in March and finalists would be sent to the selectmen for the interviews in April. Hoyt said if all goes as planned, they hope to have someone on the job July 1.
"I think this looks great and I hope we can bring great applicants," Nowak said.
The town is still building a budget for the marketing and search process and it will be brought before the selectmen before the end of the month.
The town acknowledged wastewater treatment plant operations Supervisor James Thompson who is retiring after 30 years of service to the town.
"Thank you, Mr. Thompson, for your 30 years of service and the town appreciates that," Duval said. "We wish you a happy retirement."
Duval read from a resolution that stated that Thompson started at the plant in 1988 and has held multiple posts, including operator one and two and lab technician, in the department.
Thompson has gone beyond that call of duty throughout his 30-year career, he said, and is responsible for a lab procedure and equipment manual that is still in use to this day.
In other business, Duval said the town has received many calls about un-shoveled sidewalks and urged residents and business owners to keep their sidewalks clean.
"We have had a lot of calls about sidewalks not being clean and it is a bylaw in this community," he said.
Police Chief Richard Tarsa said people need to do their part considering the many elderly in the community.
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