Politics & Government
Sherborn Town Administrator Search Committee Discusses Critical Timeline
The Town Administrator position is planned to be filled by Sept. 1.
After three months passing without a town administrator, Sherborn’s Town Administrator Search Committee had its first meeting electing former Sherborn fire chief Neil MacPherson as its chair and establishing Sept. 1 as a start date for the position.
The committee consists of Woodhaven manager George Shea, selectmen Paul DeRensis, selectmen George Pucci, Sherborn Police chief Rick Thompson, and MacPherson.
DeRensis said at the beginning of the meeting that there have been many applications for the interim position and 28 applications for the full-time position.
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DeRensis said one of the issues with replacing the position is that other town administrators make at least 40-percent more or even double what Sherborn offers.
Former Town Administrator Dan Keyes was reported as making $86,500 a year.
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DeRensis added, “Money is very tight.”
In the past, DeRensis has said it would be more economically feasible for the selectmen and staff to take on some of the town administrator’s duties.
At the meeting Pucci said he disagrees with that idea. “I would like to see an interim town administrator,” he said. Pucci added that he does not believe town hall currently has the staffing to handle all the communication needs.
Right now the new chairman of the Sherborn Board of Selectmen Tom Twining is holding informational meetings with the town’s department heads, said Pucci. He asked chief Thompson, if those meetings are different with the town administrator.
Thompson said they are. He said a town administrator gets more involved and the meetings now are more of a sharing of information.
Pucci added that the selectmen have committed to a Town Meeting in the fall, primarily to allow Parks and Recreation to have a complete presentation on the cost of a revamped Laurel Field. There may be other articles as well, such as the Sherborn Library renovation and Pine Hill Access Road projects.
The Sept. 1 start date would allow the new town administrator to aid in the finalization of the fall Town Meeting said DeRensis and because they already have applications the process should take less time than usual.
MacPherson encouraged a timeline.
The committee decided they would do the interviews in July and have three names for the Board of Selectmen to vote on in mid-August.
Pucci suggested they narrow it down to eight or nine before July.
DeRensis said he has already Googled some of the candidates and noticed that one was fired from his last job.
Thompson said before interviews are done, “I’ll have my personnel do a thorough background check.”