Hebron manager trio may stay awhile

HEBRON — With the search for a permanent town manager suspended, the board of selectmen is now considering extending the terms of the interim town management team indefinitely.

After the unexpectedly early retirement of former Town Manager Jared Clark in March, selectmen appointed three interim town managers to act as a team.

Each of them already held positions within the town: Andrew Tierney, the lead, is the director of public works; Michael O’Leary is the town planner, and Donna Lanza is the town manager’s executive assistant.

Selectmen claimed that by splitting the duties, they could each continue their regular jobs and each focus on different aspects of the town manager’s duties.

Selectmen Chairman Jeffrey Watt said one consideration in extending the team’s term is they work well with, and for the town.

“The team, and their staff, has done a great job,” Watt said. “Hebron townspeople know the team, and know that they will be responsive.”

Selectmen have also claimed having current employees serve in the town’s top post meant the temporary uncertainty of Hebron not having a permanent town manager would be alleviated somewhat.

Both employees and town residents would feel comfortable with the familiar faces, and, likewise, the three interim managers were already up to speed on the issues of the day facing Hebron, selectmen claimed.

At the time of the interim appointment, a search committee was formed to find a permanent town manager, with Clark’s successor expected to be named this fall.

The initial appointment was made for three months.

In June, the selectmen extended the appointment for an indefinite period “until a permanent town manager was named.”

Although receiving many applications from candidates, selectmen have now suspended the search for a town manager.

It is, instead, holding workshops on whether to keep the interim team a while longer.

One of the factors in making this proposal is cost.

Lanza, O’Leary and Tierney split a monthly interim pay salary of $6,879, amounting to $2,293 for each.

Clark’s salary, however, had amounted to $10,985 each month, including his health insurance benefits, pension payments and ve-hicle allowance.

Watt said Tierney would be considered the interim town manager and Lanza and O’Leary would be considered “assistant interim town managers” and hold what he called “support roles.”

There are, however, some issues still to work through.
Watt said there were some concerns the trio’s other, regular duties would suffer while they focused on the management of the town, especially within the public works department and there is not enough oversight in place to ensure internal controls are followed.

“We’re taking a look at everything,” Watt said.

Selectmen have already held one workshop, where employees and residents could offer input on what they perceived are the negatives and the positives of the situation.

Watt said another workshop would be held to gather more information.

The date has not yet been finalized, but will take place before the end of September.

Watt said, after reviewing the information, selectmen will determine whether to reopen the permanent town manager search or extend the term of the interim team.