WILMINGTON, MA — At a recent special meeting, the Wilmington Select Board finalized the composition of the Town Manager Screening Committee.
Each Select Board member nominated a resident with familiarity in town government:
- Michael Caira — who served as Wilmington Town Manager for 22 years — was nominated by Kevin Caira
- Jonathan Eaton — current Town Moderator, former Select Bard member, and former Finance Committee member — was nominated by Greg Bendel
- Robert Peterson Jr. — former Town Moderator — was nominated by Gary DePalma
- Mike Champoux — former Select Board member and former Economic Development Committee Chair — was nominated by Lil Maselli
- Ray Lepore — current Board of Appeals member and former Select Board member — was nominated by Frank West
The Finance Committee and Planning Board will have representation in Finance Committee Chair John Doherty and Planning Board member Sean Hennigan, both residents.
The men that manage Wilmington’s finances — Finance Director/Town Accountant Bryan Perry and Assistant School Superintendent of Administration and Finance Paul Ruggiero — will round up the 9-member screening committee.
The Select Board voted 4-1 to approve the committee. Select Board Frank West voted in opposition, noting that while he supports the nominees, he only wanted the screening committee to assist the Board with the search for the permanent Town Manager, not the temporary Town Manager position too.
The Select Board will discuss the screening committee’s charge at its August 14, 2023 meeting.
Town Manager Jeff Hull announced in June he would be retiring on October 31, 2023, after 36 years of service to the town, including the past 11 years as Town Manager.
The Select Board has indicated it is very likely an Interim Town Manager will need to be appointed, as Hull’s replacement could begin as late as July 1, 2024. A timeline will become clearer once the Screening Committee begins its work.
Select Board Take No Action On Most Agenda Items Regarding Town Manager Search
The Select Board took no action or tabled four additional agenda items related to the Town Manager search at their special July 31 meeting, including:
- no action on appointing Assistant Town Manager/HR Director Susan Inman as Temporary Town Manager
- no action on designating a subcommittee of Select Board members to discuss terms and conditions of the Temporary Town Manager with Inman
- no action on developing an approach or process to fill the Temporary Town Manager position if Inman is not appointed
- no action on establishing a timeframe to fill the permanent Town Manager position
Several Select Board members, including Kevin Caira, Greg Bendel, and Lil Maselli, stressed their desire to slow down the search process.
“I don’t even know what we’re doing here this evening, since we decided at the last meeting we would meet again on August 14,” began Select Board member Kevin Caira. “We all agreed that the [proposed draft] timeline was too aggressive and too fast, and that we needed to slow down. Tonight’s agenda is just the opposite.”
“We have assembled nine individuals who are very talented and I, for one, would like to hear from them. I am uncomfortable rushing through this process,” continued Caira. “If we were to follow the draft in our packet, the process would be completed by September 25… This is the most important decision we’re going to make.”
Caira indicated he did not want to appoint Assistant Town Manager Susan Inman to the Temporary Town Manager role without the Screening Committee’s input.
“By taking this vote and naming Susan Inman Temporary Town Manager, you’ll be stifling the ability of the search committee from doing its job,” explained Caira. “And you will be sending a clear signal to the other Town Managers in small communities who want to come up to a larger community, Assistant Town managers, Department Heads, and other state and municipal administrators, don’t bother to apply.”
Caira also claimed that Inman has requested a salary of $170,000, a 34% raise, to fill the Temporary Town Manager position.
“I, for one, am not willing to give up my management’s rights when it comes to negotiation. Her demand of $170,000 or nothing is giving up our management rights. I’m not one to be held hostage for a vote,” stressed Caira, who added that he would prefer a Temporary Town Manager with a financial background.
“There is no need to rush this very important decision. Just because someone has the title of Assistant Town Manager doesn’t necessarily mean that individual should be the Town Manager,” concluded Caira, who suggested a transition between Hull and a Temporary Town Manager could take as little as two weeks.” Tonight should be about the search committee and approving the nominees… Voting on [some of the other agenda items] would be a mistake at this time and determinantal to the success of the search committee.”
Select Board member Lil Maselli agreed the search process should be slowed down.
“I, too, agree we should focus on the screening committee first. That should be the focus first before the Temporary Town Manager appointment. I feel like we’re putting the cart before the horse with that. Get the committee together, get appointed, get a date, get them together, come back to us, let us know what’s going on,” said Maselli. “Mr. Hull is here until October 31. I don’t see the rush on doing this now on July 31.”
“If Susan [Inman] comes in as Temporary Town Manager tonight, I think that scares off a lot of candidates,” added Maselli, who stated her decision to delay the vote was “nothing personal.”
“I agree with some of the comments made by Select Board members Caira and Maselli,” echoed Select Board member Greg Bendel. “I’m impressed with the highly-qualified screening committee we’ve assembled and I think we should get as much input from them as they’re willing to give us.”
“This is going to be the biggest decision we ever make,” continued Bendel. “It’s OK if we need a little more time to do it. No one has really done this in the last 5 decades. Sorry if we need a few more minutes to get it right.”
Select Board Chair Gary DePalma had different thoughts than some of his colleagues on matters related to the screening committee, noting he felt a screening committee looking at both a temporary town manager and permanent town manager could take “twice as long.”
“I think we need to let the process be our guide and let the search committee get on board. Let’s hear from them,” responded Select Board member Caira. “We don’t need a 3-month transition period. We need 2 weeks, max, if we’re doing from within.”
DePalma said he was hoping to have a permanent Town Manager in place sometime in February.
“We want to get the right person in. To me, the dates don’t matter,” responded Maselli.
“We’re not in a rush,” stressed Caira.
“It’s OK if this takes until the spring of 2024. It’s OK if someone were to start on or before July 1,” echoed Bendel.
During public comments, Screening Committee members Jonathan Eaton and Mike Champoux offered ideas and asked questions.
Selectman Eaton suggesting establishing a line of delineation between the Select Board and the Screening Committee, making it clear who is responsible for what. He also suggested a joint meeting between the Screening Committee and Select Board early in the process may be helpful.
Champoux, meanwhile, requested resources on Town Manager search processes from the Massachusetts Municipal Association and Town Counsel to assist the Screening Committee, which Hull agreed to provide.
Hull noted that Town Hall will support the Screening Committee in additional ways. Beverly Dalton, from the Town Manager’s Office, will serve as the Committee’s point-person and assist the Committee in organizing its first meeting. An employee from the Treasurer/Collector’s Office will serve as the Committee’s recording secretary.
The Screening Committee is expected to hold its first meeting by September 30, 2023.
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Follow Wilmington Apple on Instagram. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.
Wilmington Apple 