by Anonym ·
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
by John Osborn
Former selectwoman Marie Sobalvarro is the town’s new human resources director and assistant town administrator, a part-time position created this spring at Annual Town Meeting.
The vote by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night to appoint Sobalvarro, one of two finalists for the job, was unanimous.
When Sobalvarro steps into her new role in two to three weeks, her first task will be to consolidate the policies and procedures for employees of the schools and the town, and develop strategies for recruiting and retaining them. She will also take responsibility for the array of benefits—including health insurance—that the town provides its workers. Sobalvarro will report directly to Town Administrator Tim Bragan. Over time, her role as assistant town administrator is expected to grow.
Prior to the vote, the board interviewed both Sobalvarro and a second candidate, Jennifer Cederberg of Charlton, but hesitated when it came time to make a decision.
“It’s very hard for me to be as objective as I’d like to be,” said Selectman Leo Blair. “As everyone knows, I have nothing but the highest respect for Marie.” But he had also been impressed by the second candidate, he said.
Selectwoman Lucy Wallace suggested they ask Bragan for his recommendation, but first Selectman Ron Ricci wanted to hear how he and his advisory committee had narrowed the field to the two finalists.
Bragan said that the town had received 21 applications for the job. An ad hoc committee consisting of Bragan, School Superintendent Linda Dwight, Finance Director Lorraine Leonard, and Board of Selectman Chairman Stu Sklar reviewed the resumes of each applicant and selected five candidates to be interviewed. From those interviews, the committee reduced the field first to three candidates and then, following additional interviews with Leonard and Bragan, to two.
Bragan said he had worked with Police Chief Ed Denmark to run background checks on the finalists and had checked their references and others who were familiar with their work.
“You have the two candidates who we believe to be the highest quality candidates,” Bragan concluded.
“There are no bad choices here,” agreed Sklar.
In the end, Bragan said, he had concluded that Sobalvarro was the best choice for the job and he recommended her for the position. Selectman Blair then moved that the board accept Bragan’s recommendation. Ricci seconded the motion, saying he was satisfied the selection process had been fair. The vote was unanimous.