Three Candidates Left

In Town Manager Pool

By M. D. Drysdale

The Randolph selectboard had hoped that by this time it would have made a selection for a town manager, but after two days of interviews just before Christmas, three candidates are still in the running.

All three would be very suitable, explained Selectboard Chair Jim Hutchinson this week, and the board has found no strong reasons to bring one of the three to the forefront.

As a result, the decision was postponed until a meeting next Tuesday. In the meantime, the League of Cities and Towns, which is assisting in the search, and the individual selectboard members will scrutinize all the references and make continued inquiries about the candidates.

"We're where we want to be," Selectman Larry Townsend said at last Thursday's meeting, meaning that the town has good alternatives.

The names of the three remaining candidates were not released, but it is understood that former Selectman Peter Butterfield is among them, along with two candidates with substantial administrative experience in town management.

Randolph has been without a town manager since Dec. 1, as the board did not renew the contract of Rick Schnaedter. Since then Public Works Supt. Joe Voci has been acting town manager.