Friday March 1, 2013

ADAMS -- Selectmen plan to put together a search committee charged with finding Police Chief Donald Poirot's replacement.

A committee with members chosen by the Selectmen could weed out the top three candidates from a potential field of 20, estimated Town Administrator Jonathan Butler.

At least a month of local and regional advertising is in order before the selection process can begin, Butler said at a Selectmen's workshop meeting Wednesday.

"I think it's an opportunity to see what's out there for talent and [who] has an interest in working in Adams," Butler said.

Wednesday's meeting was scheduled after Poirot announced Monday he would retire effective April 26.

At the meeting, Butler outlined for Selectmen the process followed by Dalton when that town recently hired a new police chief. There, the committee approach worked well, Butler said.

A committee might consist of one selectman, a local business leader, a school district official, a police chief from another community and potentially others.

Finalists chosen by the committee would then undergo several interviews and a public vetting process. Selectman John Duval also suggested members of the committee or Selectmen visit the chosen candidates' home communities.

The police chief position is one of two posts -- the other being the town administrator -- appointed by direct contract with the Adams' Board of Selectmen.

The starting salary of the

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position is between $62,678 and $82,231, subject to negotiation. Butler said this pay scale is in the bottom third of the state.

In terms of time frame," Butler said, "It would be a real rush to [hire a candidate in] under three [months], but I think we can do better than five."

Officials agreed. Selectman Michael Ouellette suggested that the board plan accordingly.

"I think we'd benefit from thinking about [hiring an internal candidate] on an interim basis," he said.

Internal candidates will also be considered to fill the position permanently, Selectmen Arthur "Skip" Harrington stressed.

Butler said the town will advertise in local media, Massachusetts and New York municipal websites and with the Massachusetts Municipal Association, online and in their monthly publication.

To reach Phil Demers, email
pdemers@thetranscript.com.