Derry residents will be able to share their thoughts on a new Town Administrator through a special e-mail address to Municipal Resources Incorporated (MRI), the town’s search firm.
Stephen Daly, the Interim Town Administrator appointed by MRI, detailed the process at the Feb. 16 Town Council meeting.
Daly said residents and town employees will be able to give their input at: [email protected].
Councilor Richard Tripp said it was a “great idea” and asked if there could be a link on the town Web site, preferably on the home page.
Councilor Joshua Bourdon asked Daly how he could verify that the comments came from Derry residents.
Noting the nature of e-mail, Daly quipped, “We may not even be able to verify they come from the United States.” However, he added, the firm can ask contributors to identify themselves, “and those with the most integrity will do so.”
In related business at last week’s Council meeting, Daly gave an update on the search for a permanent administrator.
As of Feb. 5, MRI had received 36 resumes from candidates from 21 states. These include nine from New Hampshire and five from Massachusetts, he said, adding, “We cast the net wide.”
Of those, one holds a PhD, several hold Juris Doctorates, and many hold master’s degrees, he said.
Daly said MRI has winnowed the field to 15 candidates, who will be asked to complete an essay question. “We are still on schedule,” he said, with on-site interviews planned for the week of April 4.
The successful candidate will replace Galen Stearns, whose relationship with the town concluded this past October.
Susan Hickey, Chief Financial Officer, performed those duties on an interim basis until this month, when she stepped down to concentrate on budget preparation.
