Select board approves town manager search position statement, names screening committee

The Needham Select Board voted Jan. 21 to approve a position statement for the town manager search and heard from search consultant Bernie Lynch of Community Paradigm Associates about the recruitment process, timeline and confidentiality rules.

Lynch said the firm and staff compiled input from the board, department heads and a public survey, then drafted a position statement to be used as the recruitment and marketing document. He asked the board for formal approval so the firm could post the job and begin accepting resumes, which Lynch said would be due Feb. 14.

The Select Board then introduced the members of the screening committee — volunteer town residents and representatives including Rita Bogle, Anna Geraldo Park, Planning Board representative Paul Alford, Finance Committee Chair Carol Faschetti, Heidi Ferdell, and Kevin Keeney — who will review resumes and interview candidates. Tatiana Swanson, director of human resources, and Lynch outlined the committee’s role: tier candidates (qualified/intermediate/not qualified), meet to review materials (tentatively the week of Feb. 17), and hold interviews in a concentrated block (March 1 or back-to-back days) so the committee can identify three finalists for the Select Board.

Key timeline and process items Lynch described: the position will be posted with the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the International City/County Management Association; resumes are expected to arrive from a regional and national pool; Lynch estimated a realistic applicant pool of 15–25 candidates with perhaps 10 strong prospects. Finalists will undergo reference checks, employment verifications and background checks before finalists’ names are presented publicly to the Select Board; the consultant noted the process is confidential while resumes and executive materials are circulated to the screening committee.

The screening committee’s work is intended to be completed in time for background checks and board interviews in March; Lynch said the goal is to present finalists to the Select Board for its consideration on March 25. The Select Board approved the position statement by unanimous voice vote after a motion to adopt it.

What this means: the Select Board has authorized the search to proceed under the approved position statement and formed a screening committee to winnow candidates and recommend finalists. The committee and consultant emphasized confidentiality of applicant materials until finalists are announced and described standard reference and verification checks.

Next steps: staff will post the position, collect resumes by Feb. 14, circulate materials to the screening committee, schedule the committee’s review meetings (week of Feb. 17), and plan candidate interviews in early March with the goal of presenting finalists to the Select Board on March 25.