Select board wants to know, what makes candidates tick?

Mon, 04/29/2013 - 08:46 am

Lynda Clancy

ROCKPORT — The Select Board of Rockport meets at 4 p.m. today to talk about the ongoing search for a new town manager, in particular, the interpretation of a specific question asked of 15 candidates who have made the semi-finalist list.

There were 30 applications that arrived at the Rockport Town Office last month by the March 29 deadline, as the ad for hiring a new town manager circulated. The Rockport Town Manager Search Committee whittled the list down to 15, and presented it to the Select Board. The board approved that list last Thursday, April 25, and then submitted more questions to the semi-finalists.

Town Manager ad

TOWN OF ROCKPORT, MAINE: From its pristine harbor to its blueberry fields, Rockport, Maine, is a small Town (population 3,500) of uncommon character.

The Town is currently accepting applications for the position of Town Manager with an anticipated appointment in June 2013. Rockport has a municipal budget of $4,400,000 with a tax assessed value of $985,000,000 and serves as a Regional Service Center.

There are 30 full-time municipal employees.

The ideal candidate will have strong municipal government experience, excellent communication skills, and proven people management skills. Experience in the corporate world, with grant writing, and/or with solid waste management would be valuable, but is not essential.

The Town offers a competitive salary and excellent fringe benefits. Resumes with at least three references and a completed Town employment application form should be submitted to: Town of Rockport, c/o T.M. Search Committee, PO Box 10, Rockport, Maine 04856. Applications will close March 29, 2013. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Those additional questions reflected an attempt to better understand the personalities and the thought processes of the candidates.

"We are trying to see what their reactions would be to certain situations," said Select Board Chairman William Chapman, on April 29. "What's attracting them to be town manager of Rockport? What makes them tick."

After those questions were submitted to the 15 semi-finalists, the search committee asked for guidance on one the questions, said Chapman.

This afternoon's meeting is the focus of that process.

"We are giving them guidance about a certain aspect," said Chapman; an interpretation "of what were are looking for in a question."

The search committee meets Wednesday to further discuss the candidate list, which is to be ready for the select board by May.

Rockport's former town manager Robert Peabody officially departed the office in February, and Roger Moody, a Knox County Commissioner and Camden's former town manager, stepped in temporarily to help tide the town over until a new manager is hired. The town and Peabody reached a severance/release agreement that was signed Feb. 19.

Peabody was hired March 25 by the town of Old Orchard Beach as interim town manager there, according to the Portland Press Herald, at $1,500 per week.

The Rockport Town Manager Search Committee consists of Kim Graffam, Will Gartley, Peter Hall (chairman), Tom Cox, Betsy Saltonstall, Kathleen Meil, and Jan Rosenbaum. Select Board member Tracy Murphy is the liaison to the committee.

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