The Harveston Select Board on Dec. 29 voted to extend Patricia ("Trisha") Lowe's service as temporary town administrator and executive assistant through Jan. 5, 2026, and to continue a weekly stipend previously approved by the board.

The move came as the board reviewed nine applicants for an interim town administrator posting and discussed next steps. Board members emphasized a preference for candidates with Massachusetts small-town administrative experience because the town enters budget season and needs a short-term appointee who can “jump in” and manage finance and human-resources functions. The board discussed two paths: have the full board interview finalists next week or delegate interviews to two select-board members and staff then return a recommendation to the full board.

The board identified several applicants for further consideration, including Sean Fitzgerald, Tom Bernard, Mark Shea and Wendy Graves, and agreed to narrow the list to three or four finalists for interviews. Board members asked staff to coordinate interviews with availability for Friday or early next week.

Separately, the board authorized the temporary town administrator to contact a recommended assistant treasurer/collector candidate and extend an offer at $23 per hour; the motion passed by voice vote. If the candidate declines, the board instructed staff to proceed to the second candidate and report back.

The board also voted to offer Mary LaRue the temporary accounting position from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, 2026, at the consultant rate she previously provided; the motion passed.

What happens next: staff will arrange interviews for the interim town administrator finalists, Trisha will place conditional offers for the assistant treasurer and the temporary accountant, and the board will review final recommendations at the next meeting on Jan. 5.

Attribution: The board made the personnel motions during the meeting; the transcript records motions and voice votes but not a roll-call tally for these items.