MONTAGUE – The Selectboard voted unanimously to recommend Christopher Nolan as its next assistant town administrator, taking over for Walter Ramsey when he assumes sitting Town Administrator Steve Ellis’ position on July 1. Nolan is currently Deerfield’s assistant town administrator. 

The decision was made only weeks after the board unanimously selected Amherst Council Clerk Athena O’Keeffe for the role at its May 20 meeting, recognizing Nolan as its second choice. According to Ramsey, O’Keeffe passed on the offer.

“[O’Keeffe]’s going to stay with her current employer at the Town of Amherst, which came back with a counter offer,” Ramsey said. “It just goes to show that we can look for some possible efficiencies in our hiring process, because it’s a complicated process, but she made a decision that works best for her career.” 

At the board’s May 20 meeting, the Assistant Town Administrator Hiring Committee, which had spent about six months searching for the right candidate after Ellis announced his intention to step down in November, announced O’Keeffe and Nolan as the top two candidates. Committee Chairwoman Dorinda Bell-Upp explained to the Selectboard at its previous meeting that although Nolan and O’Keeffe were close candidates, O’Keeffe was selected as the board’s first choice for her work in Amherst. 

Ramsey noted on Monday that Nolan and O’Keeffe were on “equal terms,” in terms of their qualifications as candidates. He said Nolan is still interested in the position.

“I spoke with him last week and earlier today and he remains very interested and eager to take on the job. I think we’re lucky to have him still on board,” Ramsey said Monday.

Since November, the committee has convened five times and reviewed about 20 applicants in its effort to fill Ramsey’s role. Bell-Upp echoed Ramsey’s remarks, describing Nolan as “extremely qualified” and noting  that the committee was “very confident” in his ability to take on the job.

Selectboard Chairman Richard Kuklewicz said that should Nolan also pass on the offer, the committee will be charged with reconvening and re-igniting the hiring process. Selectboard member Matthew Lord noted that generally, O’Keeffe’s decision to take Amherst’s offer was generally out of Montague’s control. 

“Certainly hiring for government is generally inefficient and it’s difficult [...] Amherst had plenty of time to make counter-offers prior to when they did and I don’t know what we could have done that would have changed their behavior,” Lord said. 

Nolan declined to comment on Montague’s offer Tuesday. The Selectboard, Kuklewicz said, will draft a contract for Nolan prior to next Selectboard meeting Monday, June 10.

 Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.