The town administrator is the most important role in the town. I hope that this role will be filled by someone who will be around for many years to create continuity. I see local applicants as more likely to stay in the job for their careers, so they should be taken seriously. I also see professional recruiters as uniquely qualified to find the hidden candidates who will also stay in the job for a long time.
With this local focus in mind, there are two critical reasons why an independent recruiting process is essential. Many in town will not take a local candidate as seriously as they should if there is not an independently vetted process. The applicants’ great qualifications will be overshadowed by the appearance of town politics. If an outside search firm identifies these local candidates as the top of the pool, residents will have greater confidence in their candidacy. We need to protect these local candidates from conflict of interest, especially those who are already working in Town Hall. An independent recruiting process will increase the constituents’ confidence in the candidate and will let the town move forward into an exciting new chapter.
Please use an independent search firm that is uniquely able to find a qualified candidate, local or otherwise, who will be here for many years.
Barbara Romero
Woodchuck Hill Road
