17:46The selection of a new Town Administrator dominated the meeting’s agenda. The board members discussed two primary candidates: “sh” and Michael Durham. “sh” was highlighted for her extensive background, boasting 23 years in Business Administration and experience managing multiple budgets across five municipalities. Despite concerns about her limited familiarity with tax-related matters, it was clarified that tax rate setting and form filling are not typically within the Town Administrator’s purview, responsibilities that mainly lie with the Town Clerk and assessors. This clarification helped alleviate concerns about her qualifications.

Both candidates were appreciated for their enthusiasm and experience in union negotiation and budget management. “sh” was particularly noted for her procurement certification and grant oversight capabilities, whereas Durham was recognized for managing the needs of 36 departments. The motion to offer the position to “sh” was seconded without further discussion, resulting in a unanimous vote. The board planned for Kathy to initiate negotiations with “sh,” aiming to have her start promptly, given the current Town Administrator’s last day is January 24.

Turning to the search for a new fire chief, the board considered an assessment center approach proposed by Russ Anderson. This method would involve a review committee, consisting of residents and industry experts, conducting role-playing scenarios to evaluate candidates’ potential performance in real-life situations. The assessment process, aimed at ensuring a examination of candidates’ skills, was expected to take approximately 30 days, with resumes due by January 17. This approach had been successfully used in 2007, leading to the appointment of the last fire chief. The board expressed support for this method, emphasizing the importance of having an odd number of members in the review committee to facilitate decision-making. They suggested including two residents and three industry experts and considered adding more residents if available. One member volunteered to reach out to potential participants to ensure adequate committee composition.

The role of the current Chief of Police, Chief O’Grady, in the Town Administrator appointment process was also discussed. Concerns were raised about the fairness and legality of his involvement, prompting the board to consider researching the legal aspects of the appointment to confirm their authority in the decision-making process.

Additionally, an update on dredging for freshwater was provided, noting that the application process for the necessary permits would open at the end of January. There was uncertainty regarding the availability of a pilot grant from the previous year, which would impact the project’s funding.