HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-02 Board of Selectmen Minutes BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES JUNE 2, 2011
CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Daniel Lanen called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM at Town Hall Meeting Room.
ATTENDANCE: The following were present: Daniel Lanen, Chairman; William F. Gordon, Clerk; Tracy Watson,
Licensing Chairman; Rosemary Connelly Smedile, Donald Stewart, Ray Santilli, Assistant Town Manager.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
William Gordon made a MOTION, seconded by Rosemary Smedile, to move into Executive Session to discuss Non
Union Personnel Negotiations. Roll Call vote: William Gordon yes, Donald Stewart yes, Rosemary Smedile yes,
Tracy Watson yes, and Daniel Lanen yes. Vote approved 5-0.
Chairman Daniel Lanen declared that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of
the Selectmen.
RECONVENE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
NEW BUSINESS:
Recruitment of Town Manager
Chairman Daniel Lanen asked the Board to refer to the Massachusetts Recruitment Guidelines Handbook and the
Town Charter Chapter 4 titled "The Town Manager"for various resources for recruiting an Interim Town Manager
and a search for a new Town Manager to replace Mark Rees who has accepted a position in Portland, Maine.
The Board referred to a Suggested Administrator Profile describing the background, skills, and qualities that the
Board feels the community needs in an administrator. The Board reviewed the skills and past performance and
rated them in importance of high, medium, low.
Selectman Smedile stated that this would be the most important decision this Board would make and lobbied
strongly for hiring an outside consultant that would expedite the process and make sure the town gets a solid
replacement. An outside consultant that handles searches on a regular basis would be more professional than
conducting the search without a consultant. This Board is not in the personnel business and we run the risk of
make a serious mistake.
Selectman Donald Stewart said that back in 2000, which he was initially against spending the money using a
consultant for the Town Manager search proved to be the best decision.
Assistant Town Manager said there were advantages of a consultant in maintaining confidentiality for applicants
and screening candidates. They will interview and screen and bring forward the cream of the crop. The Board has
the option of limiting their spending by prioritizing their scope of services which would allow them to use a quicker
procurement process for finding a consultant.
Board members also referred to the Town Charter and discussed the appointing of a citizen search committee.
Selectmen would choose one committee member each to do the final interviews recommended by the consultant
firm and bring their recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
Rosemary Smedile made a MOTION, seconded by Donald Stewart, to do an RFP for a professional recruiter to
assist the Town in the hiring of Chief Administrator Officer for the Town of North Andover. Vote approved 5-0.
Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, for each selectman to choose one person each for a
Town Manager search committee and the Human Resources Director should be part of this committee. Vote
approved 5-0.
Board of Selectmen Minutes June 2, 2011 2
Selectmen requested that an Addendum be added to Monday's meeting under New Business, Continuation for
Town Manager search.
ADJOURNMENT:
Tracy Watson made a MOTION, seconded by William Gordon, to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Vote approved
5-0.
Adele J. Johnson
Administrative Secretary
William Gordon, Clerk of the Board