ORANGE — There is still no decision on how to proceed in hiring a town administrator, following an tempestuous Selectboard meeting Wednesday night.
The meeting revealed the names of two of the three finalists for the position, who were selected by the Town Administrator Search Committee and presented to the Selectboard last week, causing disagreements among the board members.
Candace Ouillette Gaumond, of Ware, who is the administrative assistant to the town administrator and Selectboard in Wilbraham, and Johanna Swain, of Barre, who is the executive secretary and acting town administrator in West Brookfield, were the finalists named.
The third finalist whose resume was presented to the Selectboard last week was not named, as she has since withdrawn her candidacy.
“I would like to know, maybe we’ll never know, why she decided not to take the position,” said Tom Smith, who was elected to the Selectboard on March 5.
Smith noted the possibility that the third finalist withdrew her application because of the tumult of the previous Selectboard meeting, during which Selectboard Vice Chairman Ryan Mailloux asserted “integrity could not have been used” in the selection process.
Mailloux took issue with the exclusion of current Orange Finance Director and Treasurer Gabriele Voelker – who has been the de facto town administrator for roughly a year – among the three finalists. Voelker has served in the position since previous Town Administrator Diana M. Schindler’s leave of absence and resignation last year.
Mailloux asserted that Voelker has proved her dedication and abilities, while the other candidates have not, and that her level of education exceeds at least two of the three possible finalists. He called the absence of Voelker among the finalists as “a slap in the face” after reading the names provided by Chief of Police Craig Lundgren, who is chair of the Town Administrator Search Committee.
“There was no need for your outburst,” said Smith, who called Mailloux’s behavior “drama” and “an absolute embarrassment to the town of Orange.”
During Wednesday’s meeting, Selectboard Chairman Richard Sheridan revealed that he had filed a complaint to the State Ethics Commission against Mailloux, alleging he had shown favoritism by advocating for Voelker’s inclusion among the finalists.
“It was obvious last week that the individual in question was being promoted by (Mailloux),” Sheridan said. “This process now is very muddled.”
To Selectwoman Jane Peirce’s surprise, Sheridan also indicated that he had filed a similar complaint against her. Peirce was elected to the Selectboard on March 5.
The Selectboard had planned to interview the finalists the six-member search committee presented, and has the final word on who will be hired. Peirce had suggested, as a common courtesy, interviewing Voelker — in addition to the other three finalists — because Voelker has invested “a fair amount of time and energy” as town administrator.
“I’m gathering from the way you are looking at me that you also filed a complaint on me,” said Peirce to Sheridan, who confirmed her suspicion.
“I would first like to congratulate you on your awesome leadership and team-building skill, because you had the opportunity to call me and let me know this before this meeting, so that I could’ve called the ethics commission and just said ‘What is going on here?’” said Peirce, adding that she felt “blindsided.”
“The reason I did that, was because what happened last week, again I think the proof is in the pudding,” Sheridan responded. “We had a person withdraw who was very excited to be interviewed. She said it the night before and then she withdraws because of the controversy.”
Mailloux and Peirce expressed that they are unworried concerning the investigations, and Peirce said she is comfortable with all of her statements, which are on record.
“Read the newspaper, watch AOTV,” Peirce said.
Mailloux indicated that he also reached out to the State Ethics Commission for advice. He said that there was nothing legally improper about what he said, and defended his actions as looking out for the town’s best interests, and questioning why a highly qualified candidate was excluded among the finalists.
Mailloux did add, however, that he has “struggled” with his use of the word “integrity” in lambasting Search Committee’s decision. Members of the Search Committee read statements objecting to Mailloux’s comments.
Jeffrey Cole, also on the Search Committee, blasted Mailloux for his comments to a “highly respected public figure” like Lundgren.
“I would like to go on record with my disgust,” Cole said.
In an emotional moment, Planning Board Chairwoman Mercedes Clingerman, speaking as a citizen, addressed the Selectboard in tears, hurt by the combative discussion.
“We are going to have a next generation that inherits our garbage because we can’t get along,” said Clingerman, alluding to the problems in Orange as a microcosm of the national political atmosphere in the United States.
Cautiously, Selectboard Clerk James Cornwell said that more time and research is needed before making any decisions on how to proceed, in order to ensure everything is done legally. Cornwell even suggested it might be necessary to hire an independent body to assess the situation, rather than the Selectboard doing so itself.
In conclusion, the Selectboard decided to reconvene next Wednesday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, and asked for Lundgren to once again come to the meeting to discuss how to proceed.