By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board voted Wednesday to retain a consultant to assist in the search for a replacement for Town Manager Philip Lemnios, who is retiring on June 30.

Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable recused herself from that part of the meeting without explanation and left the room, returning after the discussion ended.

The alternative to hiring a consultant would be for the board to conduct an in-house search, which Lemnios did not recommend. He provided board members with a copy of the town charter, which defines the role of town manager, and also detailed a model of how many other towns conduct similar searches. The last time the town used a consultant was during the search for a police chief.

“You have the benefit of time in the sense that you’re not having to fill a position because someone left [with short notice] or there’s some problem to be solved right away,” Lemnios said.

Resident Anne Murray emphasized the importance of providing an opportunity for citizens to offer their thoughts “about what they see as town manager priorities. This will be a big change for the community, and there are a lot of issues [facing the town].”

Lemnios told the board they need to determine whether they want to offer a public outreach option early in the search process.

The new town manager will begin work at the beginning of Fiscal 2024.

“It will be an opportune time, and the board has the time to make [the right] choice,” Lemnios said. “You want to choose someone who will be successful in the position and have some longevity as well. It’s your process.”

After voting to retain the services of a consultant, the board asked Lemnios to start the process for hiring one immediately. Possibilities include UMass Boston’s McCormack Institute and Paradigm Consulting Group of Cambridge.

“The consultant will talk with the select board to gain an understanding of what the board feels a new town manager should bring to the table. It’s important to think about that,” Lemnios explained. “[My charge was] to put the town’s finances right when they were adrift, and that has been accomplished. The board may have a different focus this time.”

The consultant will develop a job description and advertising plan and recruit candidates.

“[Whoever is chosen] may be aware of individuals who might make good candidates for the [Hull] position” as a result of other consulting work, Lemnios said.

The next step is the formation of a screening committee, the composition to be decided, to work with the consultant. Lemnios suggested the committee consist of one member each of the select board, advisory board, and school committee, two members of the public, and possibly others.

The consultant will work with the screening committee to develop questions for the candidates, conduct reference checks and interviews, and narrow the field to semifinalists. That part of the process is private to ensure candidates not chosen as finalists won’t risk their jobs with their current employers.

Following the interviewing of the semifinalists, the finalists will be named for select board consideration through a public process.

“It’s important for the public to know that some aspects of the search process are private, while others are intended to be public and highly visible and that the board intends to keep it that way,” Lemnios explained. “For example, the public has the right to know how many applicants there are, the number interviewed, and other statistics.”

Once the final selection is made, a contract will be negotiated, a start date set, “and you’ll be ready to go,” he said.

An option is for the select board to host a public meeting for citizens to meet the candidates and ask questions. This would provide an opportunity to see how they answer impromptu inquiries and to gauge how they interact with the public, according to Lemnios.

Select board member Irwin Nesoff called the selection of a new town manager “probably the most consequential decision we will make this year. Outside expertise is important, and the process should be as open and transparent as possible.”

“Some people think residency (meaning the new town manager would live in Hull) is important,” Lemnios noted. “You’ll need to figure that out. There are lots of different cross-currents.”

The good news, Lemnios reported, is that “we have $2 million in the stabilization fund, $60 million in grant work completed or underway at zero cost to taxpayers, all town departments can keep on operating, and we’ll have the highest amount of free cash in many years. We’re in good shape. You don’t need to rush to make the right choice.”

Select board member Donna Pursel, who acted as chair in Constable’s temporary absence, said she trusts the process and thanked Lemnios for his service to the town.

Resident Steven Greenberg said “the earlier the better for the public process.”

The timeline for selection of a new town manager will be determined at a later date.

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