HADLEY — Four candidates are being tabbed to move to the next phase of the search for a permanent town administrator for Hadley, though the Select Board this week may ask for a reduced number of finalists.
Interim Town Administrator Michael Mason told the Select Board at its April 16 meeting that the four candidates, who are not yet being publicly identified, emerged from the recently completed first-round interviews, done in a closed-door session by the Town Administrator Search Committee on April 10. Those four individuals are recommended to meet publicly with the board before a hiring decision is made.
Mason, who has been serving in the temporary role since late summer while remaining police chief, said the candidates would move to the next phase following background and reference checks. That could take two to three weeks to complete.
On Wednesday, the Select Board will discuss whether fewer finalists should be brought forward. Interviews are tentatively set for May 27 and May 28 for the position that pays between $115,000 and $150,000, depending on experience and qualifications
The search committee has been working with Community Paradigm Associates of Plymouth, reviewing resumes and considering which should be presented to the Select Board.
Mason took over for Carolyn Brennan in September, after she announced she would be retiring in December, and using several weeks of sick leave prior to then.
Brennan began her tenure in Hadley, as the town’s third permanent town administrator, in September 2020, succeeding David Nixon, who held the position for 15 years.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
