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Date: 11/13/2023
PALMER — During its Nov. 8 meeting, the Palmer Town Council met with the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management to discuss possible steps forward in hiring a new town manager.
The center’s representative, Mary Aicardi, explained how the center would proceed with Palmer’s search if included as a consultant. As the executive recruitment team lead, Aicardi stated that she would personally lead the search.
“We’ve done many, many of these searches and they’re technically the same process, but each one is unique,” Aicardi said, stating that the Collins Center has completed more than 100 executive searches. “It’s too dangerous to get it wrong. No process is ever perfect but, if we put the work in upfront, you’ll set yourself up for success.”
Aicardi explained that her team would first meet with the Town Council members individually to learn each members’ desired qualifications for the new town manager. From there, the team would consolidate a profile of the town and position for the council to approve. Once the town profile is finalized, Aicardi and her team would begin to conduct the search.
“We do an incredible amount of direct recruiting. Some call it poaching; I call it recruitment,” Aicardi said, explaining the center’s search process. She highlighted online advertising, mailing lists for professional agencies and networking from previous searches as ways the center locates potential candidates.
Following a three-to-four-week search, Aicardi recommended that a screening committee then review the potential candidates and narrow the list to three to five finalists. However, she noted that the center could screen candidates if the council preferred. After confirming background checks and references, finalists would be presented to the council to interview, Aicardi said. If the council does not choose one of the candidates, the center would conduct another search.
After speaking with Aicardi, the council discussed its options moving forward. Town Council President Barbara Barry stated that Community Paradigm Associates, the organization with which Palmer worked during the previous town manager search, also offered to assist with the search. The council agreed to reach out to the organization to tentatively set an interview for Nov. 16.
Concerning the search for an interim town manager, Barry reported that candidates sent in resumes and the council will decide who to interview during its Nov. 13 meeting. The search officially closed on Nov. 10. Barry recommended that the council organize interviews on Nov. 14 and meet with candidates during the week of Nov. 13. With this schedule, an interim should be selected by the end of November, Barry said.
Barry also noted that Police Chief Christopher Burns has agreed to maintain his role as acting town manager until an interim is chosen.