Middleboro town manager named finalist for top-job in Harwich

MIDDLEBORO — Middleboro Town Manager James McGrail is in final talks to become the town administrator of Harwich.

McGrail is one of three finalists vying for Harwich’s vacant town administrator position. The finalists for the position were made public in a Dec. 22 Harwich Select Board meeting, where officials said their final decision to fill the seat will be announced at the end of January.

McGrail, a longtime Sandwich resident, has been Middleboro’s town administrator since 2022, and said he’s looking at the Harwich opportunity as a way to work closer to his home and family.

“It's a hard decision for me, because as much as it's important for me to be closer to home and be on the Cape where I live, the board I work for and the employees I work with are all phenomenal,” McGrail said. “It's a hard decision to make.”

McGrail is up against Marion Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman and former Winchendon Town Manager James Kreidler. He said his final interview for the job will take place on Jan. 10, and the Harwich Select Board will announce their selection in the following weeks.

McGrail said besides a brief stint working in Sandwich, his career in municipal government has always been far from his home in Cape Cod — which includes his previous town leadership roles in Hingham and Marion.

“I've basically been commuting off the Cape my whole career,” McGrail said.

His current work contract with Middleboro ends on Aug. 31, 2027.

He said he enjoys working with people and solving problems as town manager, and he only looks to leave Middleboro because of the location and commute. 

“If I do leave, I am not leaving because I don't like Middleboro,” he said.

During the recent Harwich Select Board meeting, the Town Administrator Screening Committee Chair Jack Mawn — who leads the screening, evaluation and recommendation of candidates — said the finalists are “solid” and are highly skilled professionals.

“We believe the three finalists will provide the board with an outstanding group of which to choose, and we feel that any one of the three will serve Harwich well,” said Mawn, adding that the committee unanimously voted recommendation for all the finalists.

Mawn said McGrail was a top performer among the eight candidates who were interviewed for the position. Candidates included current and former town administrators, chief financial officers and senior department leaders of area municipalities.

The Harwich Town Administrator role offers a salary range of $210,000 to $240,000. McGrail said he currently makes a salary of about $203,000 in Middleboro.

Middleboro Select Board Chair Mark Germain said he’s worked closely with McGrail on a range of impactful projects since 2022, including the recent MBTA lawsuit and the East Grove Water Treatment Project.

“I'd like nothing more than to continue to work with Jay McGrail. He's amazing at his job,” Germain said. “I'm respectful of whatever decision he makes. I'm sure it's a difficult one.”

Select Board Vice Chair Teresa Farley said McGrail has made strong relationships in Middleboro, and would be missed if he did leave.

“We certainly appreciate everything he's done,” Farley said. “But, I am always the kind of person that believes in family first, and if this is a decision that he makes based on being what's right for his family — then I understand.”

If McGrail were to receive and accept the Harwich job offer, he said “it would be extremely bittersweet.”