Published in the September 27, 2017 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Town Administrator Jim Boudreau has been named one of three finalists for the Scituate town administrator position, selectmen Chairman Chris Barrett confirmed in an email.

“Jim made us aware that he was interviewing for the Scituate town administrator’s position,” said Barrett. “He informed me that he is considering this move because it is in the best interests of his family. During my tenure on the School Committee and Board of Selectmen, I have enjoyed working with him to help move Lynnfield forward and have gained great respect for him as one of the very best town administrators in Massachusetts. I wish him and his family the very best and if he isn’t offered the position, I look forward to continuing to work with him for many years ahead as the Lynnfield town administrator.”

According to the Scituate Mariner, the other finalists are Hanover Assistant Town Administrator Tony Marino and Maynard Town Administrator Kevin Sweet. The Scituate Board of Selectmen is going to interview the three candidates this week.

Scituate selectmen established a screening committee to search for a new town administrator after Patricia Vinchesi resigned over the summer. The screening committee received over 20 applicants from interested candidates.

“We culled it down to six qualified candidates who had a variety of public and private experience,” selectmen Chairwoman Maura Curran said in an interview with the Scituate Mariner. “We brought in all six for interviews last week. The three of us felt the same about three solid candidates who we’ll be bringing forward.”

Boudreau succeeded former Town Administrator Bill Gustus, who retired in January 2015 after serving the town for 13 years. Boudreau served as Norwell’s town administrator for 16 years before taking the Lynnfield job.

According to the Scituate Mariner, the screening committee asked the finalists for their viewpoints on a variety of different issues such as municipal experience, customer service, staff development, management style, financial planning, contract negotiations, grant writing, economic development, and coastal and emergency management.

“We felt we hit a lot of the hot spots for Scituate,” said Curran.

According to the Scituate Mariner, the screening committee wants the process to move forward quickly that way whichever candidate is hired has up to a 45-day commitment to their current job.

If Boudreau is offered and accepts the Scituate town administrator job, Lynnfield selectmen will be forced to scramble to find a replacement with budget season just around the corner. Scituate Selectman Tony Vegnani told the Scituate Mariner “the market for interim TAs has dried up.”

“I spoke to two or three different interim TAs and they are just swamped,” said Vegnani.

Vegnani said Scituate had a “great” group of candidates to interview for the position.

“We had a real diverse group,” said Vegnani. “I think they all probably could have done it, but at the end our mindset clearly thought these three were good, and I think we’re going to get a good candidate out of this.”

Boudreau didn’t return a call for comment.