The town has begun the process of seeking a new Town Administrator to replace Galen Stearns.
Susan Hickey, acting town administrator and acting Human Resources Director, told the Council in its Dec. 1 meeting that she has put out an RFP (Request For Proposals) for municipal management placement firms to assist the town in its search. She has also advertised the RFP on Web sites and in local newspapers, with a deadline of Dec. 14 for proposals.
Stearns was hired by the town in November 2014, but his employment was terminated in October 2015 for reasons including a difference of opinion on how to create a 2015 budget. Stearns’ employment was the result of a Council-directed search in order to save money and have a better picture of what Derry needed.
Hickey was appointed Interim Town Administrator in July after Stearns went out on medical leave.
The Council has also chosen not to fill a Human Resources Director position eliminated from the 2015 budget. After a study by Municipal Resources Incorporated (MRI), the Council determined to promote Catherine St. Ledger to Human Resources Manager and to hire a part-time HR assistant. Hickey said that has been advertised on several Web sites and she has received 15 resumes.
In the Oct. 13 special election, a majority vote of the townspeople restored the funding for the HR Director position. While the Council agreed not to hire a full-time HR director, they discussed the possibility of using the leftover funds to hire a part-time Economic Development Director. In the Dec. 1 meeting, Council Chair Tom Cardon directed Hickey to place an ad for that position, and it was agreed on by consensus.
