Nahant town administrator candidates piling up

NAHANT – The search for a new town administrator is progressing, with no shortage of candidates for consideration.The deadline for applications was Dec. 31, and there are 48 candidates in the running, according to Robert “Skip” Frary, chairman of the search committee and a former 10-year selectman.?We?re going through the process of going through the applications, and we?ve already met seven times since the committee started,” Frary said.Frary said the search committee hopes to have applicants answer some essay questions peculiar to Nahant, and state how they feel about working in town with a population of 3,592 that covers just one square mile – the smallest municipality by area in the commonwealth.?From there, we?ll conduct interviews,” Frary said. “When we?re close to making a conditional offer, we?ll conduct background and reference checks.”Approximately 10 applicants will make it to that stage, Frary said.Frary said the committee is seeking someone who is at the beginning of his or her career, computer-literate and perhaps even a boat owner. A bachelor?s degree, at a minimum, and at least five years of municipal or private administration experience in performing the duties set forth in the Town Administrator Act of 1992 are required (text of the act is available at www.Nahant.org).Frary said the town wants someone familiar with Massachusetts General Laws and how cities and towns operate, and who can hit the ground running.The goal is to have three finalists by March 1, Frary said, adding the committee is on schedule. The position is expected to be filled no later than April 1.The salary range is $86,700 to $104,900. Responsibilities include overseeing the daily operations of the town, serving as appointing authority, fiscal management, capital planning, collective bargaining, labor relations, public construction and procurement. The town?s operating budget this year is approximately $11 million.Mark Cullinan, who served as town administrator for 17 years, is serving as part-time interim administrator.?I?m very grateful that the former administrator has come back to serve as interim administrator,” Frary said. “It?s tough for someone to work part-time when the position is actually full-time. We?d like to get someone in place to carry on and relieve that burden.”The permanent position has been vacant since last June when Andrew Bisignani resigned abruptly amid questions about the awarding of public contracts. Bisignani was indicted Dec. 30 by an Essex County grand jury on charges that he committed fraud while working for the towns of Nahant and Saugus.He is also accused of knowingly violating public spending laws, failing to provide notice of competitive bids, and altering public records as well as documents requested in a grand jury summons, according to a statement from Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.Other members of the search committee include: Colleen Joyce O?Leary, vice chairman; Kenneth J. Carangelo, secretary; Carl N. Easton; Jennifer L. McCarthy; Jeffrey L. Musman; Michael R. Quigley; David G. Walsh and James J. Ward Jr.