Wilmington Selectman Gary DePalma Wants Open Town Manager Search

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington Selectman Gary DePalma wants to have an open town manager search, he said at the selectmen's Monday meeting.

DePalma raised the idea at the end of the meeting during the new business section.

Town Manager Jeffrey Hull's contract is due to expire at the end of Sept. DePalma said he'd like the Board of Selectmen to open the position for applications, as first reported by the Wilmington Apple.

"It's a three-year contract and I feel we should have all the participation we can," DePalma said. "This is no disrespect to the current town manager but I do believe we should look and see what is out there."

Hull has been in the position since 2012 and previously served as assistant town manager for over two decades.

DePalma said it would be "reckless and foolish" to negotiate a contract without conducting a search.

"We might find our current town manager is the best," he said. "As representatives of the public, I feel we should look and see what there is."

The selectmen discussed the process for either reappointing or conducting a search and agreed to contact the town counsel, KP Law, and to put the subject on the agenda for the next meeting, May 24.

Selectman Kevin Caira said the board should decide whether to reappoint Hull before conducting a search.

"This board has to make a decision as to whether they want to reappoint or not reappoint," Caira said. "I'd be in favor of reappointing him."

"In my short time with the board, we've always been proactive in preparing to come to an agreement" with the town manager ahead of the contract deadline, Selectman Greg Bendel said.

The full meeting is available here from WCTV.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.