Marblehead selectmen choose consultant for administrator search

MARBLEHEAD – Selectmen have chosen a consultant to assist them in their search for Marblehead?s next town administrator.Board members voted 3-0 to hire Municipal Resources Inc. of Meredith, N.H. at a cost of $9,800.With Town Administrator Tony Sasso scheduled to retire next year, Municipal Resources will seek finalists for his replacement.Chief Procurement Officer Becky Curran said Municipal Resources responded to the town?s request for proposals and firm representatives were interviewed by herself, Town Counsel Lisa Mead and Selectmen Chairman Jackie Belf-Becker, and earned a favorable recommendation.Belf-Becker, Judy Jacobi and James Nye voted in favor of the consultant contract.They also supported a motion to ask Mead to meet with them and set up a format for the search.Selectman Harry Christensen, who was also present, abstained from voting. Christensen and Selectman Bret Murray have close relatives working for the town and may face a conflict of interest if they participate in the search for the administrator who oversees all town departments and negotiates employee contracts.Both men sought opinions from the State Ethics Commission in August, so far without results.