AMESBURY — The town has hired its second major department head in a week after a lengthy search once again found the best candidate already on the town's payroll.
Town Engineer Rob Desmarais has been named the new Department of Public Works director following a lengthy search that included the aid of a paid consultant.
Following the departure of Brian Gilbert in December, Mayor Thatcher Kezer added the position to a contract for consulting services by Bennett Yarger Associates of Plymouth, which was already looking for a new fire chief.
"He's been doing a great job as engineer, and I think he'll do a great job as public works director," Kezer said yesterday.
Desmarais' official start date and salary are still being negotiated. He was at a meeting in Haverhill yesterday and could not be reached for comment.
The public works director search was contracted for a maximum of $8,000. Kezer also used Bennett Yarger to assist with the search for a new fire chief for $10,000 — a position that he ultimately filled with acting fire Chief Jon Brickett.
The consulting service formulated a job description, screened resumes and joined in the interviewing for the DPW director position. Fourteen candidates applied, and five finalists were named and interviewed.
Hamer Clarke, a retired public works director from Southbridge, did pre-interview screenings. Joining Kezer in the final interviews were chief of staff Kendra Amaral and Chief Financial Officer Mike Basque.
Kezer said Desmarais didn't even make his interest in the job known until it was posted.
"It was a competitive process," Kezer said of the search. "There were no predetermined selections."
By using a consultant and widening the search, Kezer said the process "validates that you have the best candidate," whether the person is inside or outside the department.
It also shows that there are no "automatic promotions" in Amesbury, Kezer said.
With director openings in two large departments like public works and fire, Kezer said, it's important to have a "professional process" to choose the best qualified candidate to oversee those budgets and staff.
The town did spend upward of $18,000 on the two searches, but over the next five years, those two departments will spend a combined $45 million — their two budgets for FY08 totalled around $9 million, the mayor said.
Desmarais lives in Merrimac. He started in Amesbury as the assistant engineer in 1993. After a brief leave, he returned to Amesbury as the town engineer in 1998. He has a bachelor's degree from Merrimack College, and a master's degree from Clarkson University. He earned his professional engineering license in 1999.
In a press release issued yesterday, Kezer said he plans to work with Desmarais to make additional improvements to the organizational structure of the DPW, including folding engineering under that department and improving capital planning and service delivery.
As director, Desmarais will oversee the upgrades to the water plant and water systems, work with the state on upcoming large road projects on Route 110, Route 150 and Elm Street. The Public Works Department is also responsible for managing roads, cemeteries, water and sewer.
Kezer will be searching for a new engineer, he said yesterday.
Kezer listed key characteristics he is searching for in the new director: strong management and budgeting skills, a commitment to customer service, a vision for the Public Works Department, the skills to bring about change and the ability to plan strategically.
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