MONTAGUE — The Water Pollution Control Facility’s superintendent position is being re-advertised, after the Selectboard’s candidate of choice, Eric Meals, decided against taking the job.
The position has been empty since former Superintendent Bob McDonald left in September. In the interim, Chief Operator Kevin Boissonnaut has been acting as superintendent, with former Superintendent Bob Trombley as a consultant.
Now, the position likely will not be properly filled until the end of March, said Town Administrator Steve Ellis.
Meals had been recommended to the Selectboard by a separate search committee. Meals is a Montague resident, and previously worked at the Montague plant from 2011 to 2012. He is now superintendent of Hatfield’s plant. The Selectboard appointed him on Dec. 16, and he was set to start Jan. 19, earning a salary of $84,668.
However, last week, Meals notified Ellis that he had reconsidered, and will be staying at his current job in Hatfield. He did not provide any further explanation, Ellis said.
“It’s a bit of a blow operationally,” Ellis said. “We believed (Meals) was very well-qualified.”
The advertisement for the position was re-posted on Jan. 9, with the new explanation that applications are due Jan. 31, but will be accepted until the position is filled. View the job posting at bit.ly/387XmzH.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 261.