Police chief named acting town manager: Lemnios to be consultant during transition
By Carol Britton Meyer
The select board Wednesday night appointed Police Chief John Dunn acting town manager and approved a proposal by retiring Town Manager Philip Lemnios to provide interim consulting services until his replacement, Jennifer Constable, begins her duties later this summer.
TOP BRASS. Hull Police’s Stephen Glavin, center, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant on Wednesday. He is flanked by Chief John Dunn, left, and Deputy Chief Neil Reilly. Glavin previously served as a detective and is a crisis negotiator with the MetroLEC regional SWAT team. They are standing in the hall outside the town manager’s office, where Dunn will fill in as the Hull’s acting chief executive following Philip Lemnios’s retirement Thursday. [Courtesy photo]
Dunn’s appointment was made effective at midnight on Friday, June 30, following Lemnios’s resignation, which took effect the previous day.
Dunn will maintain the day-to-day operations of the town and attend select board meetings until Constable steps into the role.
“This is an opportunity for Chief Dunn to ensure that things continue on as they should,” Lemnios said during his final board meeting.
“I can’t think of anyone who would do a better job,” board member Irwin Nesoff said.
Dunn said he was “surprised and humbled” to be appointed to this temporary position and “is looking forward to being here as a caretaker between the time Phil leaves and when Jennifer Constable starts.”
When asked by board member Jason McCann how he will juggle both positions, Dunn said he has a capable deputy chief who can help run the police department.
Pending successful contract negotiations, Constable is expected step into her new role at the end of July or the beginning of August, according to Lemnios. Constable is currently the assistant town administrator in Rockland.
In his consulting role, Lemnios will work about 15 hours weekly and will be paid a flat fee of $2,250 per week. Following the meeting, the board held an executive session to negotiate revised employment agreements with the town manager designee/police chief and the deputy police chief.
Examples of Lemnios’s consulting duties include:
• Acting as resource with the acting town manager and staff members for questions, advice, and associated administrative tasks.
• Monitoring town manager’s email box daily and responding to or directing emails to the appropriate party for action.
• Being available 24/7 for phone calls regarding ongoing issues.
• Continuing to work on ongoing legal cases as determined by town counsel.
• Assisting the new town manager with the transition into her new role.
“This week I transferred my town hall number to my personal phone to ease communications and to be sure nothing falls through the cracks,” Lemnios said.
Nesoff thanked Lemnios “for helping us through this transition. Doing so wasn’t required.”
He further noted that the hourly rate for Lemnios’ services comes out to about $150 an hour, where most other consultants would charge far more.
“This amount may seem like a lot, but it’s an extremely discounted rate and speaks to your generosity,” Nesoff told Lemnios.
In turn, Lemnios said he and his family have appreciated the opportunity for him to serve the Town of Hull for many years.
“I want to remain involved without stepping on the new town manager’s toes,” he said. “[Jennifer Constable] is very competent, and I’m happy to help.”