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Andover board appoints two members to town administrator search committee, plans local recruitment first
Summary
The board appointed two selectmen to the ad hoc town administrator search committee and agreed to advertise locally for candidates for about 90 days before deciding whether to hire a professional search firm; firms' price estimates ranged from $10,000 to $25,000.
The Andover Board of Selectmen on Tuesday took the first formal step toward hiring a permanent town administrator by appointing two selectmen to an ad hoc search committee and deciding to pursue a local recruitment first.
Under the town charter, a search process includes two selectmen, one member of the Board of Finance and two electors who are not public officials. The board appointed Selectman Jeff Magcguire and another selectman named Ann to serve as the two selectmen members of the ad hoc committee; the Board of Finance will select its representative and the board will advertise for the two at‑large elector members.
"We should put it out to... take the applications like Jeff said and then have the advisory committee screen them," said Eric Anderson, the outgoing town administrator, describing the charter‑required advisory/screening role of other town managers or an appointed review committee. The board agreed to run an in‑house search for roughly 90 days (through winter) and then decide whether to use a professional search firm if the candidate pool is insufficient.
Board members discussed the cost of hiring a search firm. Staff reported a typical range of about $10,000 at the low end to roughly $25,000 at the high end, depending on the level of service, background checks and advertising placements.
The board asked staff to advertise the position on municipal job boards, LinkedIn and other outlets and to begin recruiting the two at‑large electors for the committee. Members said they would recruit an advisory screening review composed of incumbent town managers or administrators as required by the charter if the board chooses not to use a firm.
