ORANGE — The Selectboard voted unanimously Thursday to offer the town administrator position to one of the two candidates interviewed earlier in the week and to form an hoc committee to review contract drafts.
Kevin Flynn will replace Gabriele Voelker in Town Hall if he accepts the job and agrees to the terms of a contract. He and Lyndsy Butler, the assistant director of community development and planning in Gardner, interviewed for Orange’s open position on Monday. Flynn had served as the town administrator of Sandisfield in Berkshire County from Nov. 22, 2021, until he resigned in March 2022, presumably due to a two-hour commute and an inability to find housing in the area, according to the Berkshire Eagle.
The ad hoc committee will be made up of Selectboard Chair Tom Smith, Clerk Pat Lussier, Accountant Amber Dupell, Human Resources Benefits Specialist Kristen Cormier and Treasurer Amber Robidoux.
Selectboard member Richard Sheridan suggested starting Thursday’s meeting by polling the five Selectboard members on their preference as to who got the job offer. He was the only member to pick Butler — saying she presented herself very well and has dealt with large budgets — though he later voted with his four colleagues to offer the position to Flynn once the motion had been made.
“As far as scoring, they were almost equal, in my eyes,” Sheridan said, adding that one downside to Butler is that she is young and the Orange town administrator job could be simply a stepping stone for her.
Most of the Selectboard members agreed Flynn has the experience and knowledge to “hit the ground running.” Member Jane Peirce said Flynn mentioned having his eye on this job for a while.
Voelker retired as town administrator last month after announcing her decision in the fall but is billing Orange for the hours she works as acting town administrator while the town finds a replacement.
Smith mentioned the advertised salary was between $100,000 and $125,000.
“If all goes well, we will have a new town administrator,” Smith said.
According to the Berkshire Eagle, Flynn has previously worked for other municipalities, including Phillipston. The Berkshire Eagle reported his resignation from Sandisfield was abrupt and without warning. In August, he interviewed for the assistant town administrator position in Montague but a seven-member hiring committee opted instead to suggest promoting Town Planner Walter Ramsey.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.