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Danvers committee narrows residency rule for town manager after extended debate
Summary
After extensive public comment and committee questions, Finance Committee amended the draft Town Manager Act so the manager need not be a Danvers resident at appointment but must be resident of the Commonwealth during the term; the committee advanced the revised article to town meeting.
The Finance Committee devoted major attention to a proposal that would change the Town Manager residency requirement.
The review committee had recommended an affirmative sentence stating the town manager "shall not be required to be a resident of the town," arguing a residency requirement limited the hiring pool. That position yielded a lengthy exchange: some committee members and residents urged retaining a Danvers residency requirement for accountability and local perspective; others said residency requirements are rare and constrain recruitment in today's labor market.
After multiple motions and rounds of voting the committee adopted compromise language that was read into the record: "said town manager shall not be required to be a resident of the town when appointed but shall be a resident of the Commonwealth during the term of office thereof." That compromise passed in committee and the article will proceed to town meeting for final action.
Select board members and counsel explained that employment contracts and negotiation remain tools for the select board during hiring, and that the amendment preserves flexibility while placing a residency expectation during the term of office. Members urged town meeting delegates to consider that balance during debate.
