Board asks committee for new applicants

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE - The search for a new Town Administrator continues after three of five selectmen declined to support any of the finalists at their regular meeting Dec. 21.
Having begun the process of selecting a town administrator six months ago, the board of selectmen declined to appoint either John D’Agostino, Pamela Nolan or Donald Crawford.
Search Committee Chairman James Ehrhard described all three as capable replacements.
However, it was not ability to do the work as much as ability to match the town’s specific needs that persuaded a majority of board members to keep looking.
Selectman Scott Garieri, who also serves on the search committee, said he had made up his mind to go with D’Agostino who has served in the administrator’s role in Mansfield. He said D’Agostino, would be a “great” town administrator.
Selectman Tom Creamer also supported D’Agostino.
But Selectman Ted Goodwin disagreed. “My concern isn’t necessarily their abilities. My concern is actually for our town and for the special requirements that we have,” Goodwin said.
He added that the search committee brought on good candidates, “but I think part of our job is the vetting process. We can go further because we can talk to our department heads. We can network with people and find out information about the candidates.”
Also, he said, “I do have concerns about a fit for Sturbridge. Tonight, I wouldn’t be able to support any of the candidates.”
Goodwin elaborated on his position. “I think we rushed the process…I don’t want to make a rash judgment because I think we need a town administrator,” he said.
Selectman Hal White agreed.
“I also have enough concerns with each one of these candidates that I will not be willing to support any one of them,” he said.
Chairman Mary Blanchard agreed. “I would be more comfortable if the search committee brought forward other candidates,” she said.
Interim Town Administrator Michael Racicot said that he had consulted with town counsel who told him selectmen did not have to choose one of the three finalists nor do they need to convene a new search committee.
Instead, the same committee can be asked to supply three candidates again.
“We can always go through the application list again, meet as a committee, interview again and bring you three new names,” Ehrhard said at the meeting.
Creamer said he was concerned that the process could have no end.
“Do we continue this process until we exhaust everything so that we’re down to one applicant?” he said.
The board voted to ask the search committee to bring three candidates, intentionally leaving out words that might narrow the mission of the independent search committee.
“It would be funny if we send back the same three candidates,” Ehrhard joked.
More seriously, he said he would strongly suggest to the search committee that they continue searching through their pool of candidates rather than re-advertise for the position, which would set the process back 30 to 45 days.