Northborough selectmen tap firm to lead town administrator search

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Northborough selectmen tap firm to lead town administrator search
Northborough Town Hall is located on Main Street. The Northborough selectmen have selected Municipal Resources, Inc. to lead their search for a town administrator. (Photo/Laura Hayes)

NORTHBOROUGH – The process to find a new town administrator is moving forward after the Board of Selectmen granted a contract to a firm to lead the search process.

“You folks are a desirable place. It’s a good place to be,” said Municipal Resources, Inc.’s Bob Mercier during a March 16 meeting. “You’ve had a couple of things: stability, you’re in very good shape financially.”

This decision comes after Town Administrator John Coderre accepted a job as the Foxborough town manager. His last working day will be March 31.

In February, the Board of Selectmen issued a request for proposals (RFP) from executive search firms to conduct a search for a new administrator. The town received three responses from Municipal Resources, Inc. (MRI), GovHR USA and Community Paradigm.

Over several hours, the selectmen interviewed the three firms. Ultimately, they decided to award the contract to Municipal Resources, Inc., which is based in Plymouth, N.H.

Buzz Stapczynski and Mercier handle the firm’s Massachusetts searches.

MRI was involved in the search which led to Kristi Williams becoming the Town Manager in Westborough and former Shrewsbury Assistant Town Manager Kristen Las to join Westford as its Town Manager.

“We don’t abandon the community after we complete the process. If the new manager, administrator, board member needs some advice, just call us,” said Mercier. “You’re not on a clock. We don’t do that. We support our communities after we go through the process.”

In their response, MRI outlined a proposed 12-week timeline, which would begin with developing a community profile and challenge statement for candidates. Part of their work will also involve helping the town find an interim town administrator.

Input from the community makes or breaks the process, said Mercier.

“If we were operating in a vacuum, whoever we moved to you without that knowledge of what you folks need, that person is going to fail,” Mercier said.

According to Mercier, MRI talks with every member of the Board of Selectmen, who would then determine who else the firm should talk with. MRI also will come to Northborough for a day to meet individually with town staff members.

According to Mercier, MRI talks with every member of the Board of Selectmen, who would then determine who else the firm should talk with. MRI also will come to Northborough for a day to meet individually with town staff members.

The firm also holds community listening sessions, which could occur the evening on the day they are in town to meet with town staff. Mercier said MRI also sets up an email address for community members to email their feedback.

As Stapczynski described it, their job is to bring candidates who can do the job.

If there’s disagreement about the ideal candidate, Stapczynski said they would return and discuss it with the board.

“But ultimately, it’s your decision. We really pay attention to what you want and align the ideal candidate to the ideas and things that you tell us,” said Stapczynski.

He said MRI will share their ideal candidate and community profile with the board to review.

Mercier envisioned that Northborough may receive mid-level applicants who may be from smaller communities looking for their next step.

When talking about what they liked about the firm, Selectman Kristen Wixted said that MRI did their homework on the town and she felt like they would listen to the board.

“Personality-wise, I really liked [Mercier and Stapczynski] and I felt like I could work with them really comfortably,” said Wixted.

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