NORTHBOROUGH – Northborough may have a new town administrator.
During its meeting on Sept. 30, the Select Board voted to extend a conditional offer of employment to Stephanie Bacon. While members praised both finalists, the board ultimately selected Bacon.
The offer is contingent on a background check and negotiation on the terms of appointment by the Select Board.
“I think Steph having the background and knowledge of some of the staff and the processes in Northborough –– I would like to see her in that position just based off the fact that I think that she knows them and it would really help her hit the ground running quickly and be able to have a really smooth transition,” said member Laura Ziton.
Bacon would fill the shoes of current Town Administrator Tim McInerney, who submitted his letter of resignation effective Oct. 16.
In addition to advertising and posting the position, McInerney reached out to the communities surrounding Northborough and other town managers and industry leaders to tell them about it. Over a dozen people applied for the position.
The board narrowed the finalists to Bacon and Marc Strange on Sept. 23. The finalists responded to essay questions and had a chance to meet with staff.
Bacon was interviewed on Sept. 16.
She received her bachelor’s in regional planning from Westfield State College and master’s in public administration from Anna Maria College.
She said she fell into local government. As part of her work as a civil engineer, she went before Planning Boards and Conservation Commissions and began volunteering in her hometown.
“I just had the love of municipal government and the people,” Bacon said. “It is a great team to work for. There are so many diverse areas involved. I would be honored to help Northborough as best as I could and make it beautiful and a positive, friendly, happy place to be.”
Bacon currently serves as the assistant town manager/HR director in Holden, a role she has held since 2018. Prior to joining Holden, she worked as the health director in Northborough from 2015 to 2017. She has also worked as the health director at Medway and Barre.
She said that her time in Northborough allowed her to work with town businesses, churches and schools.
She recalled discussing her desire to get into town management, which then-Town Administrator John Coderre supported. Bacon began receiving her master’s while she was employed with Northborough.
Select Board member Lisa Maselli noted how long Bacon has been in her position in Holden.
“She wanted to be in Northborough, and she made an effort to come out and put a lot of time and energy into that decision. I hope she’s here for a little bit of time,” she said.
For Chair Mitch Cohen, the decision between Bacon and Strange came down to chemistry.
“I think that we had a good chemistry with both, but even a little more with Stephanie,” he said. “I really saw a reflection of good chemistry between Steph and the staff members in the reports that we got.”
