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Date: 2/16/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – In a turn of events, outgoing Town Manager Mary McNally, who announced her resignation in October 2021, will remain in the position until her contract expires in June.
McNally’s resignation came as the result of controversy and accusations that an unnamed councilor had created a hostile work environment for her. Since announcing her intention to leave the position Dec. 3, McNally extended her departure to Jan. 3 and again to Feb. 25, so as not to leave the town without executive leadership during the search for her replacement.
In December 2021, the East Longmeadow Town Council enlisted the services of Community Paradigm, an executive search firm, to lead a search for a new town manager. A pool of 26 applicants was screened by the Town Manager Search Committee and whittled down to four finalists, including East Longmeadow’s Finance Director Stephen Lonergan, IT Director Ryan Quimby and Wellesley Human Resources Director Scott Szczebak. Longmeadow Select Board Chair Marc Strange had advanced to the final four candidates, but he withdrew himself from consideration after being offered the town administrator job in Ludlow.
At a Feb. 14 special Town Council meeting, during which the body was expected to appoint a replacement, Town Council President Michael Kane announced that he and McNally had spoken the day after candidate interviews were conducted regarding the “workload” of issues in town, including contract negotiations and litigation. McNally drafted a letter to the council, which she paraphrased during the open meeting, expressing “reservations about leaving so many of these issues in the hands of people who’ve not done this work before.”
Based on comments made after the interviews, McNally opined, the council had “some level of discomfort,” with the qualifications of the candidates. She also said she was “bewildered” that her opinion had not been sought during the search process. McNally offered to stay on as town manager until the end of her original contract on June 30 if the council decided it needs “more time to vet further applicants.”
The council expressed interest in the offer. Kane praised McNally’s “passion for the town” and “dedication.” Councilor Donald Anderson said the group should take McNally up on her offer.
Councilor Sidney Starks, a new addition to the council, encouraged his colleagues to take up McNally’s offer. Starks asked McNally if she would be willing to work alongside the new manager in a transition period. She said that she would if it does not extend past the end of her contract date.
Councilor Marilyn Richards supported the idea of McNally remaining because of the complex array of challenges before the town. She did, however, feel a candidate should be appointed now, to begin at the end of June.
Councilor Kathllen Hill agreed. She asked John Petrin, of Community Paradigm, what impacts McNally’s prolonged presence might have on the search process and the candidates.
“This happens on a very regular basis,” Petrin assured the council. He said the later start date can be worked out in contract negotiations. He said there were two decisions to be made – would they choose a town manager from among the candidates they already interviewed and what will be the process of transition?
Beyond that, Petrin reminded the councilors, “I’m here to guide you in the process, not guide you in the decision.”
Kane told the other councilors he had received inquiries from the public regarding the interpretation of Article 3 of the Town Charter, which governs the office of the town manager and the duties therein. The questions revolve around the requirements for the position. Section 1 states the town manager must be a, “person of proven administrative ability, especially qualified by education and training with prior experience as a city or town manager, or an assistant city or town manager or the equivalent public or private sector level experience.”
Before the meeting, Kane sought legal clarification from Town Attorney Jesse Belcher-Timme, who had “strongly advised” Kane not to appoint a replacement until he could give an opinion.
Council Vice President Ralph Page said it was “imperative” that the council not act until hearing from Belcher-Timme. Waiting until then, “shouldn’t be a big issue,” Page said.
Councilor Connor O’Shea, who initially said beginning the search process over again in five months would not be “fair” to the candidates, asked that no decision be made on McNally’s extension nor the candidates until Belcher-Timme weighed in.
In the end, however, the council voted 6-1 to approve McNally’s continued service. The candidates were informed of the situation. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled once the legal question is settled.