Lenox Town Manager search underway

LENOX – The search for a new town manager has kicked off.

At its last meeting, the Lenox Board of Selectmen selected the firm MRI to help the town in its candidate search to replace outgoing Town Manager Gregory T. Federspiel.

Town Manager Federspiel, who has served as Lenox’s town manager for nearly 14 years, will be leaving Lenox in mid-June to take a position as the town administrator for Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.

Before MRI was selected, Board of Selectmen Chair W. David Roche explained how he and Town Manager Federspiel had reviewed the contracts of and interviewed the representatives of three search firms: MMA, MRI and The Collins Center.

“The truth is that there was not a lot of difference between any one of the three of them,” said Chairman Roche, noting their prices were about the same.

What tipped the scales for the chairman towards MRI was its methodology, which includes asking prospective candidates to write essays: “We have an opportunity to look at these essays to see how this particular individual…would handle certain situations.”

“The highest recommendation I think that I can give them is that they found Greg,” said Chairman Roche, referring to the fact that MRI helped to select Town Manager Federspiel for the position he’ll be assuming in Manchester-by-the-Sea. “I said on the phone, ‘Can we first talk to your second place candidate?’”

The rest of the board received Chairman Roche’s recommendation favorably.

“I’m assuming you did due diligence with Greg,” said Selectman Kenneth L. Fowler.

“When I was reading it [the contracts] over…MRI sort of tipped a little bit on the side for me. I liked them,” said Selectman John McNinch, who had been unable to attend the interviews, as he’d originally planned, because of scheduling conflicts.

In the end, the board of selectman unanimously voted to accept MRI’s comprehensive package. The company will be helping the Town of Lenox sort through what is expected to be dozens of applications for the town manager position.

Search committee forming

Vetting of the final candidates will be done by a five-member citizens’ committee, the members of which must not be serving in town government in any capacity, must not be employed by the town and must not have relatives who are employed by the town.

At the selectmen’s last meeting, there was only a single letter of interest from a citizen interested in serving on the committee, and the selectmen are eager to fill its slots.

“I have brought tonight a complete folder…by one of the committee members of the last search for town manager,” said Chairman W. David Roche, noting the folder contained all of the previous committee’s minutes and could be a helpful resource. “Look and see who was on that committee, because some of those residents still are here in town and might be…good selection(s) for this committee as well.”

“We’d really like to get this out in the public that we’re looking for people,” said Selectman Edward P. Lane. “We want to move this along as fast as we can.”

Those interested in serving on the citizens’ committee should contact Town Manager Federspiel.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on May 23, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry