Sherborn Town Administrator Search Committee Meets After Five Week Hiatus

After a five-week hiatus, the Sherborn Town Administrator Search Committee met to deliberate over what purpose their committee serves while the town’s financial infrastructure is reviewed by the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Committee member and Selectmen Chair Tom Twining said a review by the Collins Center is underway and will be finished with interviews by Oct. 13.

Twining said it will be, “a comprehensive report of the functions and efficiency of Town Hall,” and all its departments.

At the committee’s last meeting on Aug. 11, its members voted to go on hiatus until they received more information from the Collins Center review that may add new definitions to the role of the Town Administrator position.

The committee's initial hope was to have a Town Administrator hired and working by Sept. 1.  

Committee member and Selectmen George Pucci said to the other members, “I didn’t tie to our Town Administrator position as much as you have.”

In the past Pucci has said he wants at the very least an interim Town Administrator in position as soon as possible.

“I hoped we would be interviewing candidates by now,” he said.

Twining responded saying the position they took, “was not only responsible but the enlightened thing to do.”

Committee Chair Neil McPherson said, “This committee is in a holding pattern,” adding, “I feel we are lacking in instruction and direction,” from the Selectmen.

Pucci agreed stating that although the Collins Center information would be important, he thinks interviews should proceed.

“I don’t see why they can’t run a parallel track,” Pucci said.

He also said that the Collins Center reviewed their candidates and considered them as part of a qualified pool. Pucci said with that information on hand they should begin interviewing the candidates for an interim Town Administrator as soon as possible.

McPherson agreed and Committee member George Shea said he would recommend a second round of interviews once the Collins Center hands in their report in five weeks. 

Shea believes that their current description of the job does not make for a strong administrator and that the review may change that. “It would be a different criteria,” he said.

Shea also noted he was, “a bit embarrassed,” because he had already interviewed applicants over a month ago and told them he would get back to them the following week.

Committee member and Selectmen Paul DeRensis and Pucci echoed those sentiments.

DeRensis also noted that there are candidates that applied in May that they have yet to contact. 

DeRensis said of the applicants he interviewed, “I made a commitment to these people and said I would get back to them.”

The committee agreed to reconnect with the all 41 applicants they have received resumes from.

Pucci volunteered to write two draft emails; one will go to the applicants already interviewed and another to the rest of the applicants. The committee is hoping to find out if any of the 41 applicants are still interested in the position.