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Resident requests agenda review of administrator hire; board approves minutes and agrees to pursue Moose Plate records-preservation grant
Summary
At the May 11 Ware Select Board meeting a resident asked for a future agenda item to revisit the town-administrator hiring process and questioned consultant fees; the board also approved May 4 minutes by voice vote and authorized staff to file intent-to-apply for a Moose Plate records-preservation grant (up to $10,000).
Frank Campiano used the public-comment period to ask the board to place the administrator‑hiring process on a future agenda and to protest consultant fees paid during the selection. Campiano said he wanted the discussion in open session rather than during public comment and told the board he had spoken with finance staff about the search cost, noting the figure "about $9,300," and adding, "Well, you wasted my money." Chair Jack Deebo declined to comment at length that night but offered that the contract is available through the town finance office for review.
Separately, board members addressed an emailed list of questions from resident Elvin Towns about the new town administrator’s terms. On the record the board described the hiring rounds, said the town used two recruitment efforts (two consultant engagements at roughly $4,650 each, per board remarks), and clarified personnel terms that were asked about: vacation accrual described as four weeks per year (with an option to sell one week), and sick time noted as 10 days with limited rollover rules. The board explained the rehiring/retainer timeline for the outgoing administrator 'Naomi' and that she returned part time to help with transition tasks and town meeting work.
On routine business the board moved and seconded to approve the May 4 meeting minutes 'as written' and recorded assent by voice vote; no roll-call tally was presented on the record. The board also authorized staff to file an intent to apply for a Moose Plate records-preservation grant (no match required, up to $10,000) to evaluate preserving handwritten minutes and historical zoning maps dating prior to 1994; if the town advances, staff will solicit quotes and bring firm estimates back to the board.
Next steps: the administrator‑hiring process was scheduled for further review (members invited concerned residents to bring documents or appear at the next meeting), staff will forward a written response to the email questions, and the grant-intent letter will be filed before the stated deadline so the town may pursue quotes if the application advances.
