Residents urge role in Town Administrator search as Rhonda agrees to stay through April

Select Board members told residents Sept. 16 that Town Administrator Rhonda has agreed to remain in the role through April to provide continuity during the budget cycle while the town reopens recruitment and expands outreach after the holidays.

During the public-comment period, resident Catherine Miller urged the board to include community members and town employees in the hiring process. Miller asked the board to consider a small, rotating committee of citizens to help review applications, suggest standardized interview questions and take part in finalist events so the community can weigh in on the selection.

Board members responded that the final hiring decision rests with the elected Select Board and that finalist interviews will be public; they also acknowledged the value of community feedback and town-employee input. The board said it will consider methods to collect resident priorities (skills and qualities desired in the next administrator) and will publicize the position widely when it is reposted after the first of the year.

Other residents at the meeting recommended delegating candidate vetting to a small group to speed the process and suggested broader advertising through municipal networks. Officials noted legal constraints on interview questions and candidate screening and said any committee or volunteers would need appropriate training to ensure interviews are equitable and compliant with state rules.

Next steps: the board plans to repost the position after the holidays and will share draft interview questions and outreach plans with the public. Rhonda will serve through April to ensure continuity for the upcoming budget cycle.