In a bid to expedite the process, the board plans to contact three local former Town Administrators, requesting letters of interest and current resumes by the end of the following Wednesday. The intention is to conduct interviews on the subsequent Thursday or Friday, involving members from the Personnel Board, Finance Committee, and Select Board to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the candidates. Discussions surrounding the scheduling of these interviews took into consideration the availability of the board members, with one member opting out due to a family event and another expressing flexibility for either day.

The board’s urgency is driven by the need to maintain continuity in town operations, particularly in light of ongoing discussions regarding the fire chief’s situation and regional analyses expected to conclude soon. The interim position, described as part-time with a maximum of 20 hours a week, is set to begin in early November. The job description, which was a focal point of the meeting, underwent detailed review and edits to ensure clarity and accuracy, addressing the temporary nature of the role and its compensation structure.

A significant part of the discussion revolved around refining the job description for the interim Town Administrator, a collaborative effort involving real-time edits. The group reached a consensus on removing the term “consultant” from the title and responsibilities while adding a bullet point concerning town hall building operations. Compensation terms were also deliberated, with a focus on indicating that the position would not offer vacation or sick time, reflecting its temporary four-month duration. It was agreed that such details might be better suited for an offer or appointment letter rather than the job description itself.

In addition to these adjustments, the board addressed concerns about the specificity of the job description’s wording. This included a preference for the term “non-benefited” over “unbenefited” and ensuring the maximum hours and temporary status were clearly stated. To accommodate the anticipated workload, the expectation was set for a retired Town Administrator or Town Manager to fill the role, as the new hire would work fewer hours than the previous administrator.

Further discussions touched on the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly about advising the select board on best management practices. Suggestions were made to revise this section to eliminate redundancy, given the pre-existing financial management policies. The board also considered the roles of capital planning and finance committees in preparing consolidated revenue and expense projections, proposing to separate mentions of capital planning from the expense budget.

Additionally, there was a proposal to streamline the agenda process by assigning a single person to handle it, potentially reducing the frequency of meetings. The interim administrator is expected to evaluate staffing levels and administrative structures during their tenure, aligning with ongoing discussions about the fire chief’s role and regional analyses.