NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough may have its next town administrator.
The Select Board interviewed the three finalists for the position – Courtney Friedland, David Genereux and David Williams – on July 6.
After several hours of interviews and deliberation, the board voted to extend a conditional offer of employment to Friedland. She will become the first female town administrator in Northborough.
“You have a beautiful community. You have really, really great, involved residents. It’s a privilege to be here tonight,” said Friedland during her interview.
She praised the town staff, community and the board.
“I think that you just need someone to help facilitate moving forward,” she said.
Friedland was born and raised in Holden. She received her bachelor’s in legal studies from Becker College before earning her master’s in business administration and organizational leadership from Nichols College.
“I was interested in local government right away,” Friedland said.
She began her municipal career in Southbridge as an intern and was then hired as the executive secretary. In 2010, she began working in Webster where she has remained.
“I’m not in any other searches because I want to make sure that I’m going to be right for the community and the community is going to be right for me,” said Friedland. “I want to make sure that I can bring something to the community.”
Select Board member Laura Ziton asked Friedland what she was most proud of in her role in Webster.
Friedland said she was proud to be the “constant pillar” for employees and residents as Webster has had turnover in its town administrator.
“I think that when the employees and the residents come to the Town Hall, they see a familiar face. It means a lot … for people to be able to come in and know that there’s an open door for someone to talk to,” she said.
Throughout her interview, Friedland used the word “home.” For the last 14 years, Webster has been her home where she built bonds and a family with the personnel and residents.
“When I saw this job posting, and to take the next step for the next chapter in my life, I think this community, this town, the personnel that work here – I could be that for them and they could be that for me,” she said.
During her interview, Friedland was asked questions regarding her experience dealing with traffic, high-density housing and the impact of technology as well as ways to increase attendance at Town Meeting and how she would recognize employees.
Chair Mitch Cohen asked what she thought were the biggest challenges facing Northborough and what of those challenges she thought was the most exciting.
Friedland said the projects – such as the fire station project and White Cliffs – on the horizon were exciting. She said Northborough has a “small town appeal” with events like Applefest and businesses like Tougas Family Farm.
“You guys have so much that brings in these families [and] you also have these projects going on that make it a nice town that’s viable. Those things get me excited,” Friedland said.
The Select Board was unanimous in their selection of Friedland.
During their deliberations, the Select Board members said they liked her energy, enthusiasm, fresh perspective and efforts to engage the community.
“I think the communication that she wants to represent between the residents and the boards and the staff sounded very good,” member Lisa Maselli said.
Member Julianne Hirsh said she was impressed with her “progressive” ideas on how to conduct Town Meeting. Member Kristen Wixted noted that Friedland had ideas on how to draw people to Town Meeting.
Ziton said her engagement with the legislative delegation was good and would help push for additional funding for the town.
“She doesn’t seem like the type of person that will give up. She’s very tenacious,” Ziton said.
Friedland’s offer of employment is conditioned upon a background review and investigation to be conducted by the town’s consultants Municipal Resources, Inc. and negotiation of her contract.
Watch the full interviews at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLo_TyAhkpI
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