Having spent “six or seven months” on the last town administrator search in 2016, the Select Board is working on finding the balance between a speedy timeline and an efficient search process as they continue to consider its options for search firms.

At its Monday, July 1 meeting, the Select Board unanimously appointed Melanie Perry, the town administrator administrative assistant who is a Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official, as the procurement officer for the administrator search.

With Chris Vitale, interim co-town administrator, looking to apply for the position permanently, he will advise Perry through the proposal language and with procurement advice, but will not be a part of the communications or process related to the search.

Additionally, the Board opted to create a Request For Proposal that will detail exactly what they are looking for in a search firm. 

The town has received two quotes from companies looking to conduct the search for a new town administrator: the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston is asking for $14,000 and Community Paradigm Associates, LLC in Plymouth is asking for $13,000.

McDonald said David Cressman, who served as Dartmouth’s town administrator for nine years before retiring in 2018, has also submitted an official letter offering to conduct the search. 

While the Board has received three proposals, the third is different, and a Request For Proposal would make an attempt at getting all the  proposals “on the same even keel,” said Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald.

“I would think if we go the [Request For Proposal] route everybody follows the same criteria, everyone bases their estimate on the same criteria and the Board can review the whole thing,” McDonald added.

Select Board member Stanley Mickelson highlighted that this option also allows the Select Board to pick the firm based on what’s best for the town and not necessarily what the cheapest option is.

McDonald noted they do not have to choose one of the original three firms either and could receive a better offer.

Given that this option extends the search process timeline, Select Board members voiced concerns with ensuring the search is conducted in a timely manner.

“I want to move on this,” said Mickelson. “I just don’t want the same thing we went through the last time searching for a town administrator. We spent an awful lot of time. … There’s no need for that.”

In response to these concerns, McDonald said, “At this point in time, I don’t think it’s going to be too much of a problem because looking at the jobs out there and what’s out there, there really isn’t that much.”

According to Vitale, the anticipated timeline would be to have a draft ready for the Monday, June 29 Select Board meeting, with procurement starting in August and the firm beginning its search in September. 

Vitale added when Perry brings the proposal to the next Board meeting, she can include a draft timeline, but said the timeline could also be affected by whichever firm is eventually chosen.

McDonald said, “Hopefully, we can narrow it down as much as possible, but I want to do things the right way.”