Search for new Marion harbormaster advances with aid from Select Board
The interview process for a new Marion harbormaster will begin later this week. File photo
The interview process for a new Marion harbormaster will begin later this week. File photo
MARION — After former Harbormaster Adam Murphy vacated the position early last month, Marion has been searching for candidates to fill the role.
Of the 27 applicants, town officials have identified 16 possible contenders to review and plan to narrow down this number to three before ultimately choosing the newest harbormaster.
The interview committee originally included only the town administrator, town clerk, members of the Marine Resources Commission and representatives from the police department and Department of Public Works.
However, Select Board member John Hoagland argued at a Tuesday, April 7 meeting the board should be more involved in choosing who will fill the role as it is “a very visible position in the town.” He pointed to the process for selecting Town Clerk Katrina Desroches in February, which involved a board member.
“Folks that are all on that vetting committee are not elected, they're appointed,” Hoagland said.. “This job is so visible in the town, we need to have someone who's elected by the town as a whole have a role in picking that person.”
Debate ensued, as Hoagland said he could not attend the interviews slated for Thursday, April 9 while Chair Randy Parker said the process should move forward as planned.
Parker said the candidates took time off from their current jobs to make the interview and any move to change the date to coincide with a member’s schedule would be disrespectful. He suggested a Select Board member instead help select the best candidate of the three finalists.
The issue was settled when member Norman Hills agreed to attend both rounds of interviews. A second interview of the finalists will be scheduled for Thursday, April 16.
Despite an eventual agreement on including the Select Board in the selection process, Hoagland said what he sees as a lack of transparency in hiring a harbormaster has been "disappointing."
“There's been no communication to the board about the process. I specifically met with the (police) chief to talk about the process,” he said. “There's a lack of communication — I don't accept that.”
He added the position has been controversial in the past two years, and said it is important for the town to “take our time and do it right.”
