Clark Needs A New Job

Clark Says He Lacks Votes For A New Contract

Alan Pollock, Cape Cod Chronicle
February 18, 2016

HARWICH — Saying he doesn’t have support from a majority of the board to extend his contract as town administrator, Christopher Clark is looking for a new job.

Clark said it’s the first time in more than 25 years in municipal government that he’s been shown the door. “I’ve always gotten along reasonably well with board members” in the other communities where he’s worked, Clark said. In a closed-door session last Wednesday, the board of selectmen discussed the town administrator’s request for a three-year contract extension. Board of Selectmen Chairman Peter Hughes said most of the hour-long executive session was devoted to this topic, though no formal vote was taken. After the board’s regular open session that followed, Hughes said he told the town administrator that it was his sense that only two members of the five-member board favored offering him a contract extension. 

Brewster Selectmen Pick Embury

Cape Cod Times

The Brewster selectmen acknowledged Tuesday that they could not clone Town Administrator Charles Sumner, who will retire in the fall after 29 years on the job, and then they voted unanimously to hire North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Town Manager Michael Embury.

Other candidates on the top of their list were Christopher Clark, the town administrator of Harwich since 2013, and Ronald San Angelo, town administrator of Hanson since 2013.

Embury became the clear leader after the selectmen reported results of their interviews with colleagues of the three finalists.

Selectman Patricia Hughes said the staff in North Kingstown said Embury had good judgment and good balance in his life. The town planner there said Embury gave him the tools to do his job and that North Kingstown was innovative in planning. 

San Angelo Interviewed In Brewster

Ken O’Brien

Ronald San Angelo interviewed yesterday for the Town Administrator position in Brewster. Last week San Angelo was offered the position of Town Manager in Southbridge.

Mr. San Angelo, the former mayor of Naugatuck, Connecticut, and a former Connecticut legislator, said he called Southbridge Town Council Chairman Shaun M. Moriarty to let him know that he would be interviewing in Brewster because the process had been months in the works. 

Hanson Selectman’s Facebook Postings Raise Questions About Town Manager Choice

Ken O’Brien

Our newly selected Town Manager, Ronald San Angelo, was hired as Town Administrator for Hanson, MA, in 2013. His three year contract is set to expire in 2016 if he is given notice that it will not be renewed by June 30 of this year. If he is not given notice that contract is automatically extended until June 30, 2017.

Mr. San Angelo has been actively seeking other Town Manager or Administrator positions in recent months. He has been in his current position for just under two years. He has at least one year remaining on his current contract. I sought to understand the reason for his seemingly aggressive job search.

Bruce R. Young is one of five selectmen in Hanson MA, and Chatrman of that body. On his FaceBook page Mr. Young posted a few comments over the last month that may shed some light on this conundrum. They are reproduced below unedited by me. The word "edited" in the text appears in the original.  (Those who wish can see the originals HERE.)

Resume The Town Manager Search - NOW!

Ken O’Brien

At the April 7^th meeting of the Southbridge Town Council, Councilor Darlene Marcucci announced the suspension of the search for a town manager to replace Christopher Clark. Based upon the advice of the search committee’s consultant, the committee decided that to continue at this point would result in a dearth of candidates because of the pending petition to return the community to a selectmen/town meeting form of government.

In an earlier article I suggested a course of action that would result in delaying the effective date of any adoption of the proposal for at least a year and the date of it actually taking effect for at least two years.

In a comment on the same article I stated that I would put forth a suggestion for dealing with the town manager issue in the interim.

Well, here’s the fulfillment of that promise.

Breaking News: Clark Offered Town Administrator Job In Harwich

Ken O’Brien

 

Southbridge Town Manager Christopher Clark has been offered the position of Town Administrator in Harwich, MA.

The offer is pending contract negotiations.

The job has been vacant since James Merriam retired last June. Robert Lawton has been serving as interim town administrator.