By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – After interviewing two executive search firms to assist the town in recruiting candidates to replace retiring Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio, the Town Council voted on Monday to retain the services of Community Paradigm Associates.
Both firms, Community Paradigm Associates and Municipal Resources Inc., also submitted detailed written proposals outlining their qualifications and approach to municipal executive recruitment.
John Petrin, a senior associate at Community Paradigm Associates, made the pitch for his firm. He talked about his own background as well as the other members of the firm, representing a wide range of municipal administrative experience and backgrounds.
Petrin said that Community Paradigm has conducted well over 100 executive recruitment campaigns in area communities.
“We know the players,” he said, adding that the firm actively contacts and recruits potential candidates who would be a good fit. He stressed that the firm’s role is to assist the Town Council, not to select the next Town Administrator.
He said that the firm likes to speak to each member of the Town Council individually to gather their feedback regarding the character and qualities that they are seeking in a new Town Administrator.
Petrin said that Community Paradigm will also meet with local department heads to obtain a clear understanding of what the issues are in a community.
Town Councilor Edward Dombroski asked Petrin for his recommendation as to the size and composition of a local screening committee.
Petrin said that most communities do use a screening committee. He recommended a screening committee of five to seven people, including one or two at-large citizens. He said that other members could include representatives of larger town departments like the schools. He said that his firm would work with the screening committee, offering guidance and suggestions.
Councilor Jonathan Chines asked how Community Paradigm would ensure a diverse candidate pool in terms of race and gender as well as background and experience.
Petrin stressed that the firm does not limit its search to candidates with municipal experience. But they try to make sure that candidates understand the processes of municipal government. He said that they advertise for candidates across a wide range of employment sectors.
In response to a question from Councilor Robert Vincent, Petrin said that the firm would do background checks on all finalists.
Petrin also said that the firm would assist the town with determining a salary range that will help to recruit qualified candidates.
The other executive recruitment firm that made a presentation Monday night was Municipal Resources, Inc., represented by Bob Mercier and Reginald Stapcynski.
They talked about the background and qualifications of their firm, including the fact that both men have been town managers.
They said that Wakefield is in a good position to attract good candidates because of its desirability, citing the Lake, the new high school and the train station as attractive features. Wakefield is
also very strong financially, which will help attract quality candidates. MRI would also develop a community profile of Wakefield and share it with potential candidates.
They indicated that part of their process is to ask candidates to respond to several essay questions. They also offer a guarantee that if a candidate that they recruit is hired but fails to work out, they would redo the recruitment process at no charge.
In terms of the size and composition of a local screening committee, Mercier and Stapcynski recommended a committee of five to seven people. They recommended a mix of private citizens and town officials. Citizens with business experience would also be a plus, they said.
Town Councilor John Carney made the motion to retain Community Paradigm Associates. Councilor Douglas Butler said that he preferred MRI, but Councilor Edward Dombroski said that he found their presentation to be somewhat unfocused.
Ultimately the Town Council voted to retain Community Paradigm Associates and to negotiate with them to include a guarantee similar to the one offered by MRI. The vote was 6-1, with Butler opposed.
The Town Council also settled on a seven-member local screening committee. Appointments to the screening committee are pending.