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TOWN MANAGER SEARCH COMMITTEE – MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 15, 2004
The meeting of the Town Manager Search Committee was called to order at 5:30 PM on Wednesday,
December 15, 2004 at the Town Office Building, Lexington MA by committee chair Janet Perry.
Attendees:
Search Committee members Janet Perry, Scott Wilson, Barrie Peltz, Don Marquis, Richard
Pagett, Martha Wood, Bill Kennedy, Bebe Fallick, Bill Middlemiss, Robert Catalado, Olga Guttag, Jack
Donahue, Cathy Abbott, Susan Bottan. Finance committees’ liaisons Deborah Brown (Appropriation) and
Shirley Stolz (Capital Expenditures.) Tom Groux, Consultant.
minutes
On a motion (Mr. Marquis) and second, the of the meeting of December 8 2004 were
APPROVED AS AMENDED: Strike sentence: “Mr. Pagett reiterated that any member of the Board may
request an interview for any candidate.” Replace with “Mr. Pagett reiterated that any member of the Board
may request that the committee consider and interview any candidate.” Ms. Guttag suggested that
Committee minutes be posted on the Town’s website.
meeting schedule
Committee members discussed a beginning in January 2005. It was agreed that the
Search Committee would meet every Thursday from 5:30 PM. The next meeting of the Committee is
scheduled for January 6, 2005 at 5:30 PM Mr. Pagett asked that applications continue to be received at
Town Hall and available to Committee members for review during the period of December 16, 2004
through January 6, 2005. The locked cabinet containing applications will be housed in the Selectmen’s
Office, not at Lexington Police Department. The Town Hall building is open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM,
Monday through Friday. Should members want to review applications on Saturday, Sundays or holiday,
they may do so by making arrangements with one of the Board of Selectmen members.
applications
Mr. Groux announced that 18 have been received to date. In response to this announcement,
Mr. Marquis noted “surprised” that more applications had not been received. It was expected that a
community “like Lexington” would draw 60 to 70 applications. A discussion about the factors that may
have resulted in the lower than expected response rate commenced. Perceived residency requirements,
imminent Board of Selectmen elections, and the resignation of the former Town Manager, Richard White,
were among the possible factors raised by Mr. Groux and Mr. Marquis, based on conversations with Town
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Managers employed by other communities, and discussed. Mr. Groux and Mr. Marquis stated January 7
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and 8 the MMA conference expects to be a good recruiting venue and both gentlemen will attend.
The question of postponing the Town Manager candidate interviews until after the elections was posed.
Ms. Perry and Mr. Groux made note to speak with the Board of Selectmen about the committee wishes
regarding elongating timeline, creating anecdotes to perceptions, and other practical actions to enhance
response. In the meantime, Mr. Groux and Mr. Marquis will continue to make personal contact with Town
Managers who may be potential applicants.
advertisement vehicles and dates
Mr. Groux reviewed the : ICMA website posting November 19, 2004,
and continues to be posted and printed twice in the members’ bi-monthly newsletters beginning on
November 29, 2004, thereafter, the publication lists the position opening with reference to prior publication
dates; MMA website positing on November 18, 2004 and printed in the members’ newsletter on January 3,
2005. The Committee agreed that the new brochure will likely draw a great deal of attention and boost
applications.
On a motion (Mr. Cataldo) and second, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Bottan for Cathy Abbott, Recorder for the Committee