The Select Board appointed Gary Carreiro as the sole town administrator in a 3-2 vote on Monday, Feb. 24.

Since the June departure of former Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes, Carreiro, who also serves as the town’s treasurer and director of budget and finance, and Chris Vitale, assistant town administrator, have operated as co-town administrators. 

Select Board member Stanley Mickelson proposed moving away from this model as the town starts fresh in its mission to fill the role following the board’s recent rescinding of an offer to candidate Bridget Almon, the director of finance in Fall River.

Select Board member David Tatelbaum said the board had initially decided to go with co-administrators because the situation was temporary.

“I think it would be best served to go with one moving forward because we don’t know how long it’s going to take,” he said.

Select Board Chair Shawn McDonald said he didn’t agree with the change, believing it wasn’t the right time. Both he and Select Board member Christopher O’Neil opposed the appointment.

Select Board member Heidi Silva-Brooks said, “I feel that both gentlemen have done the town and this board a great service by taking the reins since last June already and I feel that they have worked well together.”

Although she had concerns about how this would affect the Carreiro’s department, she ultimately voted in favor, confirming the appointment.

McDonald said, “I know Mr. Vitale and his professionalism will do everything he possibly can to support Mr. Carreiro with this.”

The board will take another look at Carreiro’s interim town administrator contract at a future executive session and will also figure out what sort of support his department may need with this change.

The board additionally voted to move forward with the town administrator search, authorizing the submission of its request for proposal for a firm to recruit and for the town to do its own advertising for the position.