The meeting commenced promptly with the unanimous approval of the previous meeting’s minutes. However, the focus quickly shifted to the appointment of an interim Town Administrator. Margaret Nardz, with her extensive experience in municipal administration, was proposed for the role. Nardz’s background includes tenures as Town Administrator in Sunderland, Berlin, and Rutland, and she also previously served as Town Clerk in Amherst. The board highlighted her decade of service to the Sunderland community, which bolstered their confidence in her capabilities. A motion to appoint Nardz was made, seconded, and passed with unanimous approval.

Following Nardz’s appointment, the board tackled the issue of recruiting a new full-time Town Administrator. They discussed the merits of conducting the search internally versus engaging an external firm. The Collin Center at UMass Boston and Paradigm Community were mentioned as potential firms, with some members expressing concern over the high costs, which could exceed $10,000. The board considered involving Deborah Radway, a former HR director, to assist with the internal recruitment process.

The debate on whether to use a search firm or conduct an independent search was thorough. Proponents of hiring a firm argued that it would provide a broader reach and a well-developed community profile to attract suitable candidates. Conversely, others believed that an independent search could be initiated more quickly and still yield satisfactory results. One member cited a previous successful independent search where advertising was done through the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) and local papers.

A critical aspect of the recruitment process discussed was the necessity of a comprehensive background check for the new Town Administrator. The board agreed that this could be handled separately from the recruitment itself. There was a consensus on the need for thorough checks, including credit and criminal history, regardless of whether the search was in-house or through an external firm.

Concerns arose about overburdening Nardz during her interim role while managing the recruitment process. The board aimed to balance fiscal responsibility with workload considerations, especially since they were transitioning from a full-time to a part-time administrator. Budgetary flexibility was noted, and the possibility of compensating Radway for her involvement was discussed.

They planned further discussions on the outlined steps and the preparation of a draft community profile statement to guide the search.

The meeting also addressed staffing and resource needs, particularly regarding South County EMS’s plans to handle background checks internally. A member questioned whether South County EMS was authorized to conduct these checks but acknowledged potential collaboration if they were. The timing of Margaret’s start date was also discussed, contingent on when she could be sworn in and the availability of Wendy.

Year-end financial transfers were another significant agenda item. Jeff reported that three accounts required adjustments to balance deficits from the fiscal year. These deficits included $3,893 for police general expenses, $1,237 for the cemetery fund, and $1,625 for Frontier’s out-of-district transportation, attributed to unexpected police expenditures and a rise in busing rates. The board reviewed the sources of funds for the transfers, which would come from police full-time wages, highway seasonal wages, and police part-time wages. A motion to approve the year-end transfers, pending finance committee review, was unanimously agreed upon.

Jeff presented a transition document for the board’s review, outlining various operational aspects and upcoming projects to assist Margaret in her new role. The document covered the North Main Street sewer repair, vacant personnel positions, the budget process, and ongoing capital projects like purchasing a highway loader and a backhoe. It also highlighted the status of school infrastructure projects, including pending window installations, and updates on the wastewater treatment plant managed by South County EMS.

The board also discussed a recent incident in town that may have been motivated by hate. A member emphasized the town’s firm stance against any form of hate and encouraged individuals who felt victimized to report their experiences to ensure accountability and prevention measures.

Additionally, Jeff provided an update on a contract awarded for the historic preservation design of the Graves Memorial Library. References for the firm were positive.