\Middleboro Town Manager search delayed as consultants are questioned
Town Manager Search Committee Joseph Mandile expresses concerns about the process. Photo by Christian Uva
Town Manager Search Committee Joseph Mandile expresses concerns about the process. Photo by Christian Uva
MIDDLEBORO -- The road to hiring a new town manager has hit a speed bump, MiddleboroSelect Board members were informed at their Aug. 17 meeting.
Members of the Town Manager Search Committee, which has been tasked with reviewing candidates for the job and providing top choices to the select board, questioned whether they were provided enough information to make the best decision.
The search committee worked with Municipal Resources Inc., the consultant the town hired to help with finding the next town manager. The consulting firm provided potential candidates for the search committee to consider.
After narrowing down that field, Search Committee Chair Joseph Mandile said that committee members were made aware of a complete list of applicants. That list included candidates that ”we would have liked to see,’’ he said, but were not provided to them.
Mandile questioned whether the select board should “reboot the whole process.’’
Select board members expressed disappointment with the work of Municipal Resources Inc. Select Board Chair Teresa Farley suggested the town should “part ways’’ with them.
Interim Town Manager Joseph Perkins suggested reaching out to the town’s legal representatives for specifics on whether and how the contract with Municipal Resources Inc. could be broken.
Mandile suggested the committee should “regroup as a board’’ and work with Human Resources Director Hannah Greene as they move forward.
The town is searching for a new town manager to replace James McGrail, who left the position in March to take a similar job in Harwich.
Perkins, who previously served as the town’s police chief, was brought on to serve in an interim capacity.
Perkins will be leaving the interim role Sept. 30. In light of the recent developments, Farley said, there will likely not be time to hire a permanent town manager by then.
She suggested bringing on another interim town manager and asked board members to bring the names of potential candidates to the Aug. 31 meeting.
The process of finding a new town manager “has been flawed from the start,’’ Farley said. “We need to do this right.’’
