Administrator search begins in Hadley; sewer rates to rise

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 10-09-2024 3:22 PM

HADLEY — A process for identifying a permanent town administrator is getting underway in Hadley, with the first step likely hiring a company to oversee the search.

During a Select Board meeting on Monday that also included a hearing on increasing the sewer rates, which the board voted unanimously to do, board members gave the go-ahead to prepare an advertisement seeking a company that would work with a search committee for finding a successor to Carolyn Brennan, who retired as town administrator after nearly four years in the position.

Select Board Chairwoman Molly Keegan said Tuesday that, even if it takes time, board members want a formal search process, observing Hadley has a capable interim town administrator in Police Chief Michael Mason. He has been handling both positions since Brennan’s departure in late summer.

“What’s most important is we find the right person,” Keegan said.

At the board’s Oct. 2 meeting, representatives from Community Paradigm Associates LLC, Groux-White Consulting and Municipal Resources Inc., three companies that specialize in such searches, presented information about what to expect and to understand the timeline for getting a new town administrator in place.

Board member Jane Nevinsmith said it made sense to issue a request for proposal for a search company to see what they can offer the town and then have a series of candidates who would be brought forward for interviews.

Board member David J. Fill II said he would like to see a similar process to the one that worked well the last time, with three finalists to choose from.

More discussion could happen after companies express interest in doing the work, said board member Randy Izer.

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Prior to the meeting, the board received a letter of interest in serving as town administrator from Linda Sanderson, the town’s treasurer. Sanderson explained that, if selected, she could transition from her role to serve as town administrator, which would benefit Hadley.

“My long-term and extensive knowledge of this town, its needs, its financial abilities and its financial limitations will further allow me to step into the role and get up to speed quickly,” Sanderson wrote.

In that communication, Sanderson explained reasons that the Select Board should pause a search, including that many communities are looking for similar leaders and a more favorable hiring market for a limited talent pool may develop.

But Keegan said board members felt that even with a qualified internal candidate, that person would be expected to go through the formal search process.

Sewer rates to rise

Meanwhile, with no public feedback, the board approved 10% increases to the sewer rates that will bring in around $50,000 this fiscal year, covering about half of an anticipated $100,000 shortfall in the costs of hauling sludge for disposal from the wastewater treatment plant.

Department of Public Works Director Scott McCarthy said there isn’t enough money for the more than $100,000 year-over-year increase.

The remaining $50,000 will come from a transfer from sewer impact account that will be on the Town Meeting warrant on Nov. 14.

“Our hope is the increases will hold us for a little while,” said Town Collector Susan Glowatsky

Glowatsky said while both sewer and water rates were adjusted in winter 2023, previously no changes had been made to the sewer rates since 2007.

Projections presented to the Select Board last month show that a family of three would have their sewer bills go up by around $62 each year, from just under $400 to a bit over $461, while a large commercial entity, like a hotel, would get a sewer bill over $3,100 higher, going from $20,320 to $23,472.

The $7.68 per 100 cubic feet for residential sewer users will go up to $8.45 per 100 cubic feet on Feb. 1 and to $8.87 per 100 cubic feet on July 1. The so-called commercial baseline, who are non-residential users up to 14,999 cubic feet, rates will rise from $7.88 per 100 cubic feet to $8.67 per 100 cubic feet and then to $9.10 per 100 cubic feet. Major users, those 15,000 cubic feet and over, or what is known as commercial conservation, will have rates rise from $8.80 per 100 cubic feet to $9.68 per 100 cubic feet and then to $10.16 per 100 cubic feet.

Mason said there is hope that a resolution to the growing sludge disposal costs could come at the state level, as legislators understand it’s an issue facing many communities.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.