Selectmen Sign Contract With New Town Administrator Ketcham

The Board of Selectmen decided to sign a contract with new town administrator William Ketcham at their meeting Tuesday night, filling the vacant position.

The board took up the contract as their first discussion item at the meeting. Selectman Bob Cohen asked to amend the contract language regarding the town's payment of dues and subscriptions, as the total amount of such dues is unknown. That amendment was accepted.

The board voted unanimously to approve the contract, and applauded as the decision was announced.

The decision ends a period of more than two months in which the town had no administrator.

The matter had been delayed to that meeting because there were two members of the board absent at the Dec. 7 meeting.  It is board's preference, selectmen said, to make important decisions when all members are present.

The same circumstance led to a delay in setting the tax rate.

The selectmen chose Ketcham, who had previously served as the Adams town administrator, in a in mid-November. During that session, selectmen cited his ability to keep things on an even keel.

The board has been without a town administrator since October. The board had decided not to renew the contract of its then-administrator, Jack McFeeley.

The board then appointed a search committee to select potential candidates for the position. The committee provided three: Ketcham, Sherborn Town Administrator Daniel Keyes and former Medway Town Administrator Jeff Ritter.

In an interview in late November, Ketcham expressed enthusiasm about starting. He said he anticipated that his first duties will focus around the town's budget.