DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board appointed the Town Manager Screening Committee on Monday. 

 

The board unanimously approved the appointments of Laurie Martinelli, Malia Carlotto, John Bartels, Deborah Merry, and John Kelly to the committee.

 

Robert Bishop, the chair of the Select Board, abstained from appointing Kelly because Kelly is Bishop's employer.

 

In February, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson announced his intention to retire, effective July 1.

 

According to the town's bylaws, the Select Board is responsible for appointing a five-member screening committee to assist in screening all applicants for the position of town manager.

 

The subcommittee will submit "a list of at least three qualified applicants to be interviewed by the Select Board," the bylaw says. 

 

"From this group of candidates, the Select Board shall appoint a Town Manager. The screening committee's duties shall be terminated upon the Town Managers' appointment."

 

Bishop and fellow board member John Boyle proposed the appointments to the board after reviewing volunteer inquiries from seven residents interested in serving on the committee. 

 

Boyle and Bishop said that while reviewing each volunteer's background, they took into consideration feedback from town residents and fellow board members

 

Bishop emphasized that they wanted a group with broad perspectives who could bring different insights to the search for a new town manager. 

 

Martinelli has 23 years of experience working as an executive director for two non-profits.

 

Bishop demonstrated how, in her volunteer request, she highlighted her experience in the hiring process, including reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, and recommending candidate(s) that best fit the job description. She also serves as a member of the Green Dalton Committee since March 2024. 

 

Carlotto has lived in Dalton for over 30 years. She was an assistant town clerk under Barbara Suriner and was an assistant city clerk in Pittsfield for 12 years. In these roles, she worked closely with Select Board members and City Council members. 

 

Bartels is a former Select Board member and police chief. He also served as a cemetery trustees and is involved in local events.

 

Merry is the former town clerk and was a secretary to previous town managers. She is also active in local affairs and knows local government, Bishop said.   

 

Boyle highlighted Kelly's background as a local businessman, how he has served on multiple committees, and was part of the screening committee during the previous search for town manager. 

 

Hutcheson is working on drafting a request for proposals for a search firm. During a meeting in March, Hutcheson said he would present materials on potential firms during a Select Board meeting on April 14.

 

During the meeting on Monday, Boyle stressed the need to get this procedure rolling because it would be ideal to get a new town manager on board for training by mid-June to avoid having to hire a town manager. 

 

"I think for me personally, I'm not willing to sacrifice competency over timeliness. So, I rather have good-quality candidates, and if we have to have an interim, then so be it. If it takes us a couple of months into the new fiscal year, so be it. But I definitely want a competent town manager," Select Board member Marc Strout said. 

 

Select Board member Robert Collins said one of the firms previously referred to the board, Community Paradigm Associates, would find the town an interim town manager as part of the services it provides.