Administrator search committee finalized

Administrator search committee finalized

Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer


TEMPLETON — The town’s search for a new full-time administrator is officially under way, as the Board of Selectmen voted  Monday night  to appoint three members to the official Search Committee.

Former selectmen Virginia Wilder, School Committee member John Columbus, and Bev Bartolomeo will form the ad-hoc committee, reviewing applicants and making a final recommendations to the select board.

There was some controversy as to whether a former selectmen should serve on the committee, as the board had previously been advised against appointing its members in order to prevent a conflict of interest.

“The recommendation that we heard was that board members should not be on the committee,” said member Doug Morrison. “And if a current select board member should not be on the committee, than nor should a previous selectmen, in my opinion.”

The board’s Vice Chair Kenn Robinson disagreed, saying that while a current board member should not be appointed to the committee, there was no real reason a former member should be barred from participating.


“I could understand why current selectmen shouldn’t be in that position, because they’re the ones who will be doing the final voting…whereas a former select person would not be making the final decision,” he said.

Member Diane Haley Brooks agreed with Mr. Robinson, explaining that a former selectmen would know best how to deal with a town administrator or coordinator, having worked with them previously.

The town administrator job posting was uploaded to the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s website on February 6.

According to the posting, the town is seeking applicants with a bachelor’s degree in public administration or a related field, although a Master’s degree would be preferred.

Candidates should also have between five and seven years administrative experience, with five years working in municipal administration. 

Resumes will also be kept confidential, which interim-Town Administrator Robert Markel described as crucial in attracting more candidates.

“To have a larger pool of applicants you need to guarantee confidentiality because some of them are already working as administrators and don’t want to upset where they are until they’re a finalist,” Mr. Markel explained.

Mr. Markel also informed the board that the posting has attracted five candidates so far, including one from Oklahoma.

He said he expected the position to get between 25 and 30 responses before the review process begins.

For now, resumes will be submitted electronically and applications will be kept at the Board of Selectmen’s office for search committee members.

The committee has not yet set a date for their first meeting.