FARMINGTON — During a special selectmen meeting Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, the recruitment process for the next town manager was shared.
David Barrett, director of personnel services and labor relations for Main Municipal Association was provided with documents outlining the establishment of the town manager’s position, appointment, and job description. Barrett provided an outline of the recruitment process and asked selectmen to provide a list of “needs assessments.”
Selectmen provided the following expectations of the new manager:
• Ability to plan for future growth, anticipate future needs and provide long-range planning.
• Comprehensive review of salary and benefits to aid in retention and recruitment.
• Comprehensive review of personnel policies.
• Manage capital improvement project[s] list – five, 10, 15, and 20-year plan; a strategy for long-term funding of reserve accounts.
• Ability to set and follow best practices with strong financial capabilities and oversight.
• Municipality experience with strong policy, State law, and State statutes knowledge.
• Strategize to fund long-term reserve accounts.
• Establish strong relationships within the community [UMF, Mt. Blue school system, Franklin Memorial Hospital…].
Farmington is financially sound, needs to maintain that financial stability, Selectman Joshua Bell replied when Barrett asked what the next three to five years might look like. Bell said he wants the new town manager to maintain a more open relationship with business owners
The selectmen in general would like the town manager to collaborate with area communities and offer them services for a fee.
Barrett shared the following outline for the town manager recruitment process:
• Create an advertisement using the information shared. [Complete this week]
• Ad to run March 6 to March 29 in Maine Municipal Association and the Vermont Municipality Association [free], New Hampshire Municipal Association and Massachusetts Municipal Association [$150 each], International City Manager’s Association [$450 each], Indeed.com and Live & Work In Maine [cost to be determined], and The Franklin Journal and The Daily Bulldog [$40+/- each].
• Review resumes the last week of March or early April, after which Barrett will forward resumes with his recommendations to the selectmen.
• Selectmen pick the top six candidates then Barrett pulls together an interview packet.
• Conduct interviews the first or second week of April.
• Conduct a second interview with the final candidates in the third or fourth week of April. Department heads will participate in the second interview process and send feedback to Barrett.
This is not an entry-level position, new college graduates are not ready for this position, Barrett noted. Farmington is a service center, requires a higher skill level in its manager than a non-service center community would, he added.
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