Bill Barton, chair of the Town Administrator Search Committee, updated the Select Board at its April 30 meeting, and the news was good. When the deadline for applications passed last week, 34 resumes were in the hands of the committee for review.
Barton also presented the board with the committee’s charter, which outlined its responsibilities and recommended adding two citizens at large to the committee. The board voted unanimously to approve the charter and add the two new seats. It also voted unanimously to add Executive Assistant Julie Doucet to the committee, bringing the total membership to 10.
The committee’s primary responsibility is to develop a rubric and questions for candidates, review resumes, and interview candidates who qualify for further consideration. It will then submit a small number of candidates to the Select Board, which will conduct the final interviews in a public meeting and make its selection. Most of the committee’s upcoming work will be done in executive session, primarily to protect the anonymity of candidates.
Board members Kara Minar and Charles Oliver recommended adding Doucet to the committee. Minar said that as the town administrator’s executive assistant, she would “have a good perspective on the job.” Barton agreed, saying that she has been an “unbelievable asset” for him as he got the committee up and running. Doucet, who was at the meeting, said she wanted to be involved, but had a lot on her plate. Board members agreed that the committee could work out the details for the time commitment with Doucet.
Applications for the two new citizen positions are on the town website. The link is on the Town Administrator Search Committee webpage, available under “Boards and Committees.” Applications are due May 7. The committee will choose two candidates to recommend to the Select Board by May 14. The board discussed voting on the candidates at a short meeting held just before Special Town Meeting that night, so that the new members could get started before the next scheduled Select Board meeting, which would be May 21.
The committee has also posted a survey on the town website asking residents and town employees what qualities they are looking for in Harvard’s next town administrator. The survey is open until May 13. The committee will consider input from the survey during its development of the interview questions and the qualities they will be rating candidates on.
Chair Rich Maiore asked Barton to provide updates at every Select Board meeting until the final selection is made. The next board meeting is scheduled for May 7.
