Gilford Selectboard appoints 7 members to town admin search committee

GILFORD — The Gilford Selectboard unanimously voted to organize a seven-member committee to search for the next town administrator. Their pick will succeed Town Administrator Scott Dunn, who plans to retire in August.

The committee will review applications for the position, and Chair Kevin Hayes said the town has already received letters of interest from residents and town employees alike.

Hayes chaired his last meeting on March 11, and he was nominated to serve on the committee as a “former selectman” by Vice Chair Chan Eddy. Eddy also nominated Sandra McGonagle, J. Scott Davis, Peter Ellis, and Giselle Lambert as resident members.

Town Clerk Danielle LaFond was also nominated as a department manager appointment, and Duncan Phillips as a non-supervisory employee appointee.

Following the vote, Clerk Gus Benavides asked whether a chair of the committee had been chosen, and Dunn informed him it had not. Benavides then asked Eddy if he would like to make a motion, who responded he would not.

Benavides moved to appoint Hayes chair of the committee, but before a second was made, Hayes asked if it would be better to have the committee designate the chair themselves. Eddy agreed with Hayes, and Benavides said he was OK with that, if that was the wish of the board.

“Let’s see where the chips fall,” Hayes said.

The selectboard also approved by consensus posting an advertisement for the job. Prior to the approval, Benavides pointed out the maximum pay listed in the draft was $140,000 per year, when he thought it was previously set at $125,000.

Dunn said the amount budgeted is $125,000, and the reasoning for the higher number was to attract quality applicants.

“That’s the risk we’ll take, in my opinion,” Benavides said.

Benavides said the original amount can be advertised, and if a candidate is “extremely well-qualified,” they can decide to increase the amount, when the time comes.

“I would rather leave it at the amount we budgeted for,” Benavides said.

Hayes and Eddy agreed, with Hayes saying if a person is interested in the job and makes it to the final interview, the salary discussion can take place.

“There will be some negotiation on both sides,” Hayes said.

The committee will conduct the initial round of interviews, and will recommend the top three candidates to the selectboard for consideration. The committee members will observe the second round of interviews conducted by the selectboard, and will then participate in deliberations for the selectboard to determine who will get a conditional employment offer.

The committee will hold the first meeting on Friday, March 20, and the deadline for applications for the town administrator position is Friday, April 10. Six candidates will be selected for interviews, which will take place on Friday, May 8. The top three candidates will be chosen by the selectboard on May 22, followed by a conditional offer of employment on May 29.

Dunn is expected to retire on Aug. 14, but the anticipated start date for a new assistant town administrator will be July 20. Dunn will overlap with his replacement during that timeframe, to ensure a smooth transition in the role he held for the past 18 years. The new employee will become the town administrator on Aug. 16.