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Clinton Likely to be Led by Interim Manager

According to a town official and a representative of the firm hired to assist in the hiring of Clinton’s inaugural town manager, it is likely that the town will have to first appoint an interim town manager in the fall before the town’s first full-time town manager is hired.

On Nov. 19, Clinton’s form of government will switch from the current Board of Selectmen (BOS) model to a town manager model. With a town manager form of government, a professional, accredited town manager will act as the town’s chief executive, taking on many of the duties handled by the current first selectman. A seven-member town council elected in the November election will replace the BOS and supervise the town manager.

Upon taking office in November, one of the first orders of business for the Town Council will be to hire the town manager from a list of finalists determined by the Town Manager Search Committee (TMSC). The hiring of the town manager must be approved by at least five members of the Town Council.

In early July, Doug Thomas, the senior vice president of Strategic Government Resources (SGR), held a series of public meetings to receive feedback and answer questions from the public about the process of acquiring a town manager. During one of the sessions, Thomas said that it is likely that once a final candidate is approved, it will take 30 to 90 days for that person to take office, especially if he or she is a town manager in another town. During that time before they come to Clinton to take office, Thomas said that the town will need to appoint or hire an interim manager.

TMSC Chair Phil Sengle agreed that it is a possibility that the town will need an interim manager in the fall, regardless of how quickly his committee works.

“It’s really out of our hands with the seating of the new council,” said Sengle.

As the later fall approaches and if it becomes apparent an interim is needed, the TMSC will begin looking at options such as retired town managers or other qualified people.

“I think we’ll see how it plays out and we’ll take it very seriously,” said Sengle.

In the new charter, there are no provisions that would limit the powers of an interim manager, according to Sengle. However, he said he believed that the person chosen for the role, as well as the members of the Town Council, would understand that no significant decisions should be made during that period.

In the meantime, the TMSC will spend the summer and early fall reviewing candidates for the town manager position and selecting a final list three to five people. Those finalists will be invited back to Clinton in the fall for another public meet and greet.