Select Board approves contract with new town administrator

48

Stephanie Bacon was interviewed by the Select Board to be Northborough’s town administrator on Sept. 16. (Screenshot/Northborough Cable Access)

Stephanie Bacon was interviewed by the Select Board to be Northborough’s town administrator on Sept. 16. (Screenshot/Northborough Cable Access)

NORTHBOROUGH – The Select Board approved a contract with the new Town Administrator Stephanie Bacon during its Oct. 21 meeting.

Chair Mitch Cohen said the board came to an agreement with Bacon during its executive session earlier that evening.

In an email to the Community Advocate, Bacon thanked the Select Board for entrusting her with this “important” role and said she was eager to work collaboratively with the residents, businesses and community organizations to “address challenges and seize new opportunities.”

“As Town Administrator, my goal is to ensure the Town of Northborough remains a vibrant and thriving place for everyone. I envision a future where there is community building, economic development and sustainability,” Bacon said. “To achieve this vision, I need input, ideas, and participation from the community. I encourage residents to reach out to me directly, attend town meetings and engage with our community events.”

Bacon was one of four finalists for town administrator that were interviewed by the Select Board in September to replace outgoing Town Administrator Tim McInerney, who submitted his letter of resignation effective Oct. 16.

Since 2018, Bacon has worked as the assistant town manager/HR director in Holden. Prior to that, she was the health director in Northborough from 2015 to 2017.

During her interview, she discussed her desire to get into town management, which was supported by then-Town Administrator John Coderre. Bacon began receiving her master’s in public administration from Anna Maria College while she was working in Northborough.

“I just had the love of municipal government and the people,” Bacon said during her interview. “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.”

The Select Board narrowed the pool of candidates to Bacon and Marc Strange, who has been the Ludlow town administrator since 2022, on Sept. 23 before ultimately selecting Bacon on Sept. 30.

Her first day with Northborough will be Nov. 4.

Assistant Town Administrator Diane Wackell has been serving as the interim town administrator in the meantime. Cohen said that Wackell was doing a “wonderful” job.

“I really appreciate Diane stepping up and doing this in addition to her regular job because there’s no one backfilling your position,” said Cohen. “… That will help smooth the way for Stephanie joining us on Nov. 4.”

No posts to display