Middleboro to seek proposals for town manager search firm

MIDDLEBORO -- Select Board members will seek proposals for a firm to oversee the search for a new town manager.

That vote followed a presentation at the March 16 Select Board meeting by Rick White, of Groux-White Consulting, which works with communities to help find town manager candidates.

White’s firm is no stranger to Middleboro. The company was selected to oversee the hiring in 2022 of previous town manager Jay McGrail. He proposed a fee of $9,950 for his company’s services.

He said he solicits candidates, interviews them and creates a list of eight to 10 possibilities for a potential screening committee to then review.

White explained that in the search for Town Administrator in Harwich, the job McGrail left Middleboro for, each select board member appointed one person to the committee. Seven members would be the maximum number for an effective committee, he said.

Members of the committee must be able to work collaboratively and appreciate the confidential nature of the search. Candidates’ names are not public until later in the process.

Select Board Chair Mark Germain said he likes having representatives from the board serve on the screening committee rather than membership from the board itself. “I’d like to take us out of it,’’ he said.

White said he could complete the process in 13 weeks. Select Board member Brian Giovanoni said 13 weeks would be preferable but “if we need a couple of more weeks, let’s do it.’’

Giovanoni estimated that a new town manager would start in November.

A key to a successful candidate, White said, is finding a “good fit’’ for a community. “Fit is just as important as qualifications,’’ he said. Interviewing department heads and meeting with each select board member helps him better understand a community’s needs, challenges and requirements for the position.

White anticipated receiving between 28 and 45 candidates and would reduce the pool presented to the screening committee to about 15 people “who are really worth looking at.’’

Select Board member Bill Pike suggested putting out a request for proposals for other potential firms to help find a town manager.

“I’d like to see another choice to have something to compare with,’’ Pike said.

Giovanoni cast the sole vote against reaching out to other firms.