Select Board chooses Del Castilho as interim town manager
Date: 9/25/2012
By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.comLONGMEADOW — The Select Board voted on Sept. 19 to enter into contract negotiations with Barry Del Castilho in hopes that he would become the town's acting town manager as the board attempts to find a permanent replacement for the seat.
Del Castilho was chosen over Russell Denver and Joseph Kellogg after all three interviewed for the position on Sept. 18. Select Board Chair Paul Santaniello and Selectmen Mark Gold and Mark Barowsky voted in favor of Del Castilho, while Selectmen Richard Foster and Marie Angelides voted negatively.
"He's a former town manager, he's worked with the Collins Center and he brings a wealth of experience that I think can help this town move forward in the short term," Gold told
Reminder Publications. "Among the things he said he can do for us is help us in our search for a town manager."
An associate with the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management, which the Select Board hired at a cost of $14,000 to conduct the recruitment for its town manager opening, Del Castilho spent 23 years as the town manager of Amherst before retiring in 2006. Since retiring, he has served as the interim town administrator for Wilbraham and South Hadley.
He has a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University and a bachelor's degree from Brown University.
The board almost immediately ruled out Kellogg for the position after the interviews on Sept. 18, with members agreeing that while he had impressive credentials, his insistence in working no more than 18 hours a week as a retired professional made him the wrong fit for the town's needs.
The board then decided to hold off on making a decision between Del Castilho and Denver until Sept. 19, wishing to gain better understanding of Del Castilho's expectations in terms of work schedule.
Gold explained that the board came to learn that Del Castilho was willing to work 30 hours a week.
"I didn't see that as a deterrent given his phenomenal credentials and experience," he said. "He is experienced, well-versed, and has great credentials. In the short time he is with us we are going to be able to take advantage of a great deal of his knowledge."
Foster said that while he thought Del Castilho was highly qualified for the position, he thought Denver, an attorney who served as the town's first administrative executive as well as president of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield and chair of the East Longmeadow Appropriations Committee, brought a diverse set of skills.
"I thought Russ would do a better job for this town and what it needs right now," he said. "He knows most people in town, he lives very close, he is aware of a lot of the problems we have had recently, so he has a great familiarity with our town. Along with that, his many years with the chambers of commerce could open up new opportunities."
Foster added that he felt Denver could offer a long-term solution to the town manager situation.
"The other gentleman [Del Castilho] was extremely qualified, but he made it clear he was only interested in an interim position," he said. "I wanted someone who was perhaps looking for another career and might want to stay here long-term."
Gold added that reaching an agreement with Del Castilho would be crucial for the town as it would allow Finance Director Paul Pasterczyk, who has been filling in as town manager, to return to his normal duties.
"Paul needs to go back to his position as this town's CFO," Gold said. "We rely on him in the development of our budget and the procurement of state aid, so we need him to be able to devote his time to that."
The hiring of an acting town manager became necessary after the board was twice unable to hire a full-time replacement to former Town Manager Robin Crosbie, who left for the same job in Ipswich in June.
After a vetting committee presented five finalists to the board — four of which interviewed — from a list of candidates provided by the Collins Center, the selectmen voted 4-1 to enter into contract negotiations with Thomas Guerio, but were unable to agree on a contract.
The board then hosted another four candidates from the Collins Center's list and voted unanimously to negotiate with Bonnie Therrien, but she accepted a position with another community.
Calls to Santaniello and Angelides were not returned as of press time.
