GRANBY — The first meeting of the Town Administrator Search Committee took place on Oct. 23 where town officials met to begin the process in hiring a new town administrator with former administrator Chris Martin having retired on Nov. 1.
Martin has served in the role for the last 23 years as well as in other capacities for the town including as director of the Board of Health, and head of the retirement board. He will continue to serve with the town following his retirement through the search process for a new town administrator and will be active to help whoever is hired to the position transition into the role.
The Search Committee is made up of town officials including Police Chief Kevin O’Grady, Selectboard member Glenn Sexton and School Committee member Jennifer Bartosz, former Selectboard member Mark Bail, Jennifer Mallette of the Finance Committee, Highway Superintendent Dave Desrosiers and Kathy Bronner from the Board of Appeals. Bail was named chair of the Search Committee.
The deadline for applicants interested in the town administrator position is Nov. 8 and Sexton noted during the meeting he had been informed of 14 total applicants to that point had already submitted a resume.
The job description seeks an experienced, thoughtful and skilled leader with strong communication and collaborative skills to serve as the next town administrator of Granby. The role requires oversight of the town’s yearly budget and manages the day-to-day municipal operations of the town.
The successful candidate should possess five years of progressive municipal management and leadership experience or similar responsibilities in a state or federal government agency, and a master’s degree in public administration or a related field is preferred according to the posting.
Interested applicants can submit a resume and cover letter as a PDF attachment to CLeonard@granby-ma.gov. Resumes and cover letters will be accepted through Nov. 8.
Bail said the committee would begin forming baseline questions for candidates in the coming weeks before the deadline’s end. The committee agreed to meet again on Nov. 7 to review the questions formed before the application deadline.
Bronner noted it was important for the Search Committee to make sure candidates had familiarity with modern technology and comfort level there. Bail added forming questions more specific to candidates was important to do when interviews are gearing to begin.
“Once you have like five resumes in front of you, you sort of get an idea of the flavor of the direction you want to ask something,” added Desrosiers.
Following the Oct. 8 deadline, the committee will then review the candidates and decide on a handful of options to be publicly interviewed with the Selectboard at a later date.
