Town Administrator Interviews Underway

The local candidate for the open town administrator position emphasized his local ties and technical skills; and the candidate from out of state emphasized his experience and excitement for the position.

On Monday at the Board of Selectmen hosted public interviews with Gerard Perry of Swampscott and Christopher Senior of Port Washington, N.Y.

On deck — to be interviewed Wednesday — is Thomas Younger of Belmont.

Perry, director of accounts for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, said the Swampscott opening is the only position for which he would be willing to leave his longtime job with the Commonwealth.

He said he believes he can make things happen for his hometown.

He said he has a network of connections from his 25 years in management and has ideas including strategies for getting the town more money for Chapter 70 education funding.

Perry said the town could do a better job with debt management and in setting down policies and procedures for town employees. 

He touted his technical and financial skills and promised to uphold ethical standards.

Selectmen noted his hometown ties as well as his push, as a citizen, for the new police station and asked how he would operate free of loyalties to people he has known for a long time.

Perry said he would put the town first.

Chris Senior, the deputy town supervisor of the town of North Hempstead, talked about his ties to New England including family and going to school at Boston University where he studied journalism.

He said his experience working as a lawyer made him a fast study.

He said he would engage with the community and manage as a consensus builder.

He said his experience working with a large budget, $135 million, and numerous departments with their own budgets gave him a wealth of experience.

Speaking about his debt service philosophy he said he supports rolling out new debt as old debt is rolled off the books.

He said the town could do a better job of releasing information to the public so people know what their tax dollars are paying for.

Younger, the Ipswich town administrator, will be interviewed on Wednesday at 7:15 pm.

The clock continues to tick on the selectmen's deadline for choosing the next town administrator. They have about 25 days to do so. 

The Town Administrator Search Committee culled the candidates from their review of applicants. 

The Swampscott position will pay between $113,000 and $130,000.

Dave Castellarin, Swampscott's assistant town administrator, is the acting administrator.