ORANGE — The Selectboard is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, to discuss next steps in its town manager search after the woman who accepted an initial offer withdrew from contract negotiations.
Stephanie Hirsch, who was most recently the city manager for Eau Claire, Wisconsin, emerged at the top of the applicant pool and became the Selectboard’s top choice for the newly created position, but she informed the Greenfield Recorder on Tuesday that she had removed herself from consideration.
“The appointment of a town manager is often a process with twists and turns. It didn’t work out for me, but Orange is an amazing community with so many invested and welcoming residents, leaders and volunteers,” Hirsch said. “It is a beautiful place that’s going to grow into a destination to visit and move to in the Pioneer Valley.”
At a special meeting on Tuesday evening, Selectboard Chair Julie Davis said the session slated for Saturday will consist of adequate time for citizens to speak, “so that we can receive public feedback at that time.” Selectboard Clerk Alexandre Schwanz was authorized to contact the other three finalists to determine their interest in the position.
Residents voted at a January Special Town Meeting in favor of an article to adopt a town charter to change and modernize the local government’s organizational structure and operation, and the charter took effect in July after Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill into law that established the new form of government. The charter’s adoption creates a strong town manager role to serve as chief administrative officer and direct day-to-day operations. A 10-member Town Manager Screening Committee was tasked with accepting applications and narrowing the candidate pool to recommend finalists to the Selectboard.
In selecting Hirsch as their top pick, Selectboard members passed over Town Administrator Matthew Fortier, who at the Aug. 26 meeting expressed gratitude for being interviewed for the new role and stated his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition.
In addition to Hirsch and Fortier, the Selectboard also interviewed former Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner and former Hubbardston Town Administrator Nathan Boudreau.
The agenda posted for Saturday’s meeting includes a call to move into executive session to “conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with non-union personnel, Matthew Fortier.”
Fortier told the Recorder he plans to closely follow Saturday’s meeting.
“As the second-place finalist, and next most qualified candidate, I am deeply invested in the future of Orange and ensuring a successful transition under our new charter,” he said. “To be clear, I am fully prepared and committed to working collaboratively with the Selectboard and the community to bring immediate stability to Orange, anchoring its role as a vital regional service hub for the North Quabbin.
“The screening process involved months of rigorous vetting and a significant investment of town resources,” he continued. “I believe the public deserves full transparency as the board maps out the best path forward, and I remain ready to step up and serve.”
Board reorganization
Before Tuesday’s meeting adjourned, Selectboard member David Ames made a seemingly abrupt motion to designate Schwanz as the new chair, and colleague Kelli Gervais immediately seconded the motion. When asked by Gervais, Schwanz said he was willing to serve as chair. However, Vice Chair Reid Jeffries Anderson Jr. said he felt the motion was inappropriate at this time.
“I think changing the chairman in the middle of a manager search is muddying the water and totally inappropriate,” he said, “so I am not in favor of changing the chair at this point.”
The motion then passed, with only Anderson and Davis voting against it.
Ames took to Facebook to issue a statement regarding his motion, which he said was based on months of observation and was not impulsive.
“It was watching things get worse during a crucial period for the Selectboard,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, most of the issues were outside of Selectboard meetings so the public was not aware, but the issues were there. I am not going to get into details because some were in executive session and I do not like to speak badly, in any public forum, of any public official who has committed to serve Orange.”
Ames also said he did not know if Schwanz would accept the chairmanship or if he would get the necessary votes.
Schwanz told the Recorder that the Selectboard felt that it was appropriate to make a few changes in its organization.
“As chair, I intend to have an open agenda and focus on … running fair, productive meetings where every member of the Selectboard has an opportunity to be heard and contribute,” he wrote in an email. “Julie will continue to be a valued member of the Selectboard. She brings considerable knowledge and experience to the Selectboard, and I expect her counsel and perspective will continue to be important and appreciated as we navigate the transition under the new charter and other issues facing Orange.”
