Marblehead begins search for new parks and rec superintendent

MARBLEHEAD – A seven-member committee is beginning the search to find the town’s next Recreation, Parks and Forestry Superintendent.R. Thomas “Tom” Hamond, who has held the post for 32 years, is scheduled to retire March 31.Committee members include Hamond, Town Administrator Tony Sasso, Recreation Parks and Forestry Commission member Sam Ganglani, Finance Committee member Kathleen Leonardson, School Athletic Director Michael Plansky, Director of Public Health Wayne Attridge and Disabilities Commission member Mary Levine.The committee held its first meeting Wednesday afternoon and is scheduled to meet again Thursday at 9 a.m. to elect a chairman and review a proposed advertisement. The election of a chairman was postponed due to the absence of Hamond and Plansky.Commission member Derek Norcross visited the committee meeting to drop off a job description, which Sasso and selectmen’s secretary Kyle Wylie will condense for the ad.Norcross expressed the hope that the committee would advertise the upcoming vacancy by mid-November with a mid-December deadline, screen applicants and choose finalists in January or February, so that the commission can interview them and make a selection.Attridge suggested submitting three finalists. “Usually you can narrow it down,” he said. “More than that (three) and you complicate things for the board.”The director of public health also suggested using the expression “Salary commensurate with experience” in the ad. Hamond earned $72,524 in 2007.