TA interviews to begin

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE -The search may be almost over. The Town Administrator Search Committee (TASC) has once again named three finalists, and they have now asked the board of selectmen to pick one.
Of the choices are: Ayer Town Manager Shaun A. Suhoski; Laurel, Montana Public Works Director and Chief Administrative Officer William J. Sheridan; and Mansfield Town Manager John O. D’Agostino.
D’Agostono was selected as a finalist in December and gained the votes of Selectmen Scott Garieri and Thomas Creamer. He is again back in the mix. He had been returned to the applicant pool with the rest of the first batch of finalists.
Now, TASC Chair James Ehrhard explained why he finds D’Agostino so appealing.
“Look at what he did in Mansfield, balancing development with open space,” Ehrhard said.
While he said the entire search committee thinks highly of D’Agostino’s skill set, the final vote to bring him forward was three to two.
He comes with a skill set, as well as baggage. D’Agostino was pushed out after 12 years at the helm in Mansfield. While selectmen there gave no reason, D’Agostino had been sued for unfair treatment of an employee and retaliation. One complainant alleged sexual comments were made about her by D’Agostino, whose email as listed on his resume begins with the nickname “Johnnydog.”
In a Boston news story from April 2009, he complained that the news coverage of him being named in a lawsuit was harming his chances of getting a job. A jury ruled he and the town were at fault in the claim.
“We think those concerns are limited,” said Ehrhard. “Mansfield was fundamentally changed for his time there.”
Another finalist, Shaun Suhoski was in the committee’s top ten last time around, he said. Although, unlike D’Agostino, Suhoski’s experience as town administrator is not as lengthy as the search committee wanted at first glance.
“We all liked him from the beginning and when we came back to look at the resumes, it was unanimous,” Ehrhard said.
Prior to his work in Ayer, Suhoski was Director of Economic Development and City Grants Manager in Gardner. “That is a record that shows a broad range of experience,” Ehrhard said, adding. “He really wants this job. He hasn’t applied anywhere else.”
Behind door number two is Sheridan, who “handles all aspects of life” in Laurel.
“He’s still there. They do not want him to leave,” Ehrhard said. But Sheridan, who is originally from New Jersey, wants to return to the east and seeks a salary increase.
Ehrhard said Sheridan could maneuver the local political scene. “He has a real stable personality. I think he can handle whatever the board throws at him,” he said.
The search committee also requested that selectmen allow the public to question the candidates. The board agreed and will interview each candidate for an hour, then allow a half hour of public questions.
They intend to schedule an interview for their regular meeting next Tuesday (due to President’s Day on Monday) and the other two in one night as soon as possible afterwards.
Interim Town Administrator Michael Racicot will contact the finalists and make the appointments.
A decision is expected to be made in less than two weeks, which would greatly please the search committee.
“This process does need to end,” said Ehrhard.