COLRAIN — After two rounds of interviews, the Selectboard chose Buckland Facilities Manager Steven Daby to be the highway superintendent tasked with managing Colrain’s 86 miles of roads.
The board conducted the final round of interviews with Daby and the other finalist, Timothy Daniels, on Sept. 27. A hiring committee had already met with the candidates and ranked Daby higher than Daniels. These two candidates were the only people who applied for the job.
Daby, a Buckland resident, has worked for the town of Buckland for the past 20 years. He worked his way up the ranks, becoming highway superintendent. His position was then changed to facilities manager in the past two years.
Colrain is in a unique position, considering its dynamic topography and large number of dirt roads. While Daby has experience managing a team of workers, he acknowledged that Colrain’s terrain is different than Buckland’s.
“Buckland has 6.11 compared to Colrain’s 45,” he said in the interview, speaking about the miles of dirt roads.
Selectboard member Ben Eastman explained “dirt roads take more maintenance and knowledge to prepare.”
The other finalist, Daniels, is a Colrain resident, and has worked on the Colrain Highway Department in the past. He currently works for the city of Greenfield.
During interviews with the Selectboard, the two finalists explained they know how to use all the highway department’s equipment and understand the concept of progressive discipline.
The former highway superintendent, Scott Sullivan, left the position in late summer after several meetings with the Selectboard, during which they went back and forth largely about drainage issues on Stetson Brothers Road. Sullivan is now employed with the Charlemont Highway Department, working in a supervisor position.
Town Administrator Kevin Fox has handled the highway superintendent’s email account and physical mail since Sullivan’s departure.
“I give credit to the highway employees,” Fox said. “They have been helpful in filling the void.”
The final decision to choose Daby as the new highway superintendent had two votes by members Michael Slowinski and Thom Griffin. Eastman abstained from voting.
Griffin said he voted to hire Daby based on his experience.
“He had supervisory experience and experience with road maintenance,” he said.
After the meeting, when asked why he abstained, Eastman said he had reservations about hiring Daby.
Eastman told his fellow board members that he spoke with six Buckland residents who told him about Daby’s quality of work. Many residents at the Sept. 27 meeting, including employees of the Highway Department, said they were skeptical of the Selectboard’s decision.
Attempts to reach Daby, who left the meeting immediately following his interview and prior to the board’s discussion, for comment have been unsuccessful.
Heather Butler, Buckland’s town administrator, wrote in an email that she cannot comment on Daby’s job performance. She went on to write, “There is no more thankless position in any municipality than that of a highway superintendent.”
After hearing concerns from community members, the Selectboard held a second vote on offering the job to Daby. The board reached the same decision and sent a letter with its job offer, which Daby accepted.
Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 and blevavi@recorder.com.