Some Questions Still Unanswered After Public Interviews For Town Administrator Candidates

Brookline selectmen left several key issues on the table last night, despite nearly four hours of scripted questioning of the four men vying for the job of town administrator.

In their only public appearance before selectmen make a final decision in August, the candidates were asked several rounds of prepared questions about town administration, finance, development, information technology and other topics. Some candidates completed the interview in nearly half the allotted time, and selectmen rarely strayed from their scripts.

The public interviews came toward the end of a long selection process that saw the pool of applicants shrink from nearly 50 to just four. Each of the finalists have had an opportunity to meet with the selectmen individually or on a selection committee, and selectmen said many of their own questions were answered during those private conversations.

"We're all aware of that, and you take that into consideration," said Selectwoman Nancy Daly when asked whether she had an opportunity to talk with candidates about their familiarity with Brookline government – something not asked of them during the public interviews.

To date, only one of the four candidates, former Newton finance officer Sanford Pooler, has granted interviews with the press. Melvin Kleckner, the former town manager for Winchester, and Julian Sousa, the current town manager in Framingham, have both declined interviews, while Oscar Rodriguez, the former executive director of the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, could not be reached until last night.

Brookline Patch obtained resumes and cover letters for all four candidates through a public records request earlier this month.

For the most part, each selectmen's questioning last night corresponded closely with their own special interests and pet projects: Selectwoman Jesse Mermell asked about sustainability and information technology, while Selectmen Dick Benka asked about unfunded liabilities, Selectwoman Betsy Dewitt asked about collective bargaining, and Selectwoman Daly asked about the budget process.

There were few remarkable differences in the candidate's responses to each question, with each talking about the importantce of transparency and communication, strong data collection and cooperation between various players in town government. Pooler, the former chief administrator officer at Newton City Hall, spoke briefly after each question and wrapped up his interview in about 30 minutes – despite being the candidate most familiar with Brookline's operation and personnel – while others approached or exceeded their allotted time.

Sousa and Rodriquez, in particular, provided long, involved responses, sometimes apologizing for talking too long. Sousa appeared to be the most well studied on Brookline government, talking in detail about specific initiatives the town has launched, including the consolidations of town and school payrolls, personnel hiring freezes, and switching to voice-over-internet phone systems.

Most candidates dodged questions about what they might change in Brookline if hired, with the exception of Pooler, who pointed to Newton's recent success with switching to mechanized trash collection and using lower-wattage street lights.

But like the other candidates, Pooler also stressed that he was primarily interested in continuing the work of former Town Administrator Richard Kelliher, who left early this month after 15 years at the helm.

"Brookline is one of the few communities in the state I've applied to work for because I think it's such an special place," Pooler said. "The staff with whom I've worked over the years on various projects I have tremendous regard for."

Pooler was also the target of one of the few unscripted questions of the night, with Selectwoman Daly asking him directly about his role in planning for Newton North High School, a nearly $200 million project often cited nationally as an example of runaway municipal spending.

Pooler acknowledged the project wouldn't be right for every community, but defended his involvement in it.

"I think my role in that process was, and what I would bring to Brookline if you were to hire me, I provided the mayor, the schools, the Board of Aldermen the information they needed to make a decision," he said. "The financing plan that we put together, that I put together, remained solid over time."

Other candidates escaped questions about their past employers, including two who were dismissed from their last jobs with little public explanation. In his interview, Rodriguez never mentioned his sudden departure from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, as reported in the Washington Examiner last December, while Kleckner preempted his interview by acknowledging the decision by Winchester selectmen not to renew his contract earlier this year.

"As sometimes happens in this profession, the priorities of the Board of Selectmen and the composition of the Board had changes, and they were looking for change," he explained. "And as often happens, change happens at the top."

Rodriguez, the only candidate who has never led a municipal government in Massachusetts, was never asked about that particular shortcoming.

The entire set of four interviews can be viewed on the Brookline Access website. Selectmen are expected to announce their final decision when they meet again on Aug. 10.