ROCKPORT — Edgar C. Gadbois has been named to serve as Rockport's interim town administrator after a unanimous vote of the selectmen last night.
Gadbois, who served as Framingham's administrator in the 1990s and has spent the majority of this decade serving as administrator in Rindge, N.H., in Wellfleet, and most recently as acting town manager in Great Barrington, was chosen following interviews with the three finalists.
Gadbois beat out Robert F. Canevazzi of Plymouth, who most recently served as town administrator in the Cape Cod town of Dennis, and William F. Ketcham of Adams, who served twice as city manager in Newburgh, N.Y., and worked four years as town administrator in Adams before resigning from the post last September in the first year of his second three-year contract.
The Falmouth resident boasts more than 30 years of municipal administration experience, including four years as mayor of Marlborough in the 1970s.
Selectmen Chairman Wendell "Sandy" Jacques said the town would've been in good hands no matter which qualified finalist was selected for the position. He was quick to add there is a major difference between hiring someone for three months compared to several years as will be the aim when determining the criteria and job description for a new permanent town administrator.
Selectmen named Canevazzi as a first alternative, should Gadbois reject the temporary position.
"We want someone able to come in with a good attitude, good relations and to hit the ground running," Jacques said. "(Serving) three to four months is a lot different than (several) years."
The person selected as the interim administrator could also apply for the permanent position, Jacques added.
Jacques said it's possible Gadbois could commute to Rockport just three days each week, but that compensation and hours would be negotiated in the coming weeks.
The town has not yet advertised the permanent town administrator position because selectmen are reviewing the position's job description.
Gadbois will take the reins from Town Administrator Michael Racicot, who announced in May that he was "retiring" after more than seven years on the job, but only one year into a three-year contract signed in 2008. His announcement came just nine days after Rockport voters elected Jacques to a selectman's seat over incumbent Armand Aparo. One of Jacques' campaign themes had been to reel in the authority of the town administrator's position — a theme similar to the promises of Ellen Canavan and Andrew Heinze, who were elected to the five-member board in 2008.
Last month, Racicot was named interim town administrator in Sturbridge, effective after he leaves his Rockport job on Friday.
The finalists were selected by the Town Administrator Search Committee from a pool of 21 applicants.
The nine-member search committee had given selectmen a fourth finalist, Michael F. Farrell of Methuen, but he withdrew his name from contention for the Rockport job after Georgetown selectmen chose him as that town's interim administrator by unanimous vote last week.
However, Farrell — who works for Municipal Services Inc., a municipal consulting firm — could still opt to apply for Rockport's permanent town administrator role.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
c_
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
