By Jonathan L'Ecuyer
ROCKPORT — Linda Sanders is the selectmen's choice to become Rockport's full-time new town administrator.
Sanders, a Winchendon resident and the current town administrator in Ashby — a town of roughly 3,000 people located in the north-central part of the state, follows Russell Connor Jr., Steven Bucuzzo and Michael Racicot as the town's fourth permanent administrator.
If she accepts the position, Sanders will take the reins from interim Town Administrator Edgar Gadbois — who has filled the post since Racicot left Town Hall in July.
The selectmen's 5-0 vote to choose Sanders for the post last night caps a four-month search process that had narrowed the field to three finalists earlier this month. The town's chief executive post comes with an advertised salary of between $90,000 and $105,000; board members went into executive session shortly after the vote to finalize their contract offer.
While each selectman thanked the Town Administrator Search Committee and indicated all three finalists possessed the technical skills and abilities necessary to perform the job well, all agreed that Sanders consistently rose above the rest.
"She is the only person who has experience in the private sector, and that's a big plus in today's world," said Selectman Andrew Heinze. "I think she'll bring more stability here and she'll stay here, not just use (the job) as a stepping stone to a better position."
Jacques said she made it clear to the entire board why she was the best fit for Rockport.
Gadbois was charged with delivering the news to Sanders at the conclusion of the board's special meeting.
In her interview with selectmen Nov. 3, Sanders told the board she had moved to the public sector after decades as a manager at Digital Equipment Corp., when she received a request by the outgoing Ashby town administrator to take over the position on a temporary basis upon his departure two days later.
She said she consistently demonstrates integrity and encourages staff to take as much responsibility as they can handle.
Sanders had indicated she wanted to pursue new challenges in a community by the water with a larger budget and devoted residents seeking to always improve their town government.
Sanders was chosen over fellow finalists Robert Canevazzi, 54, most recently the town administrator in the Cape Cod town of Dennis and Lancaster Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco, a 31-year-old Danvers resident.
The board hopes to be able to finalize a contract on Nov. 17 and have the town's first female town administrator in place at Town Hall at the end of the month or by early December at the latest, Jacques said.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
