Wayland Appoints Acting Town Administrator

Wayland Selectmen on Monday appointed John Senchyshyn as its acting town administrator.

The vote was 3 in favor, in opposed and one abstention. Selectman Joe Nolan opposed the motion.

Senchyshyn’s term could run as long as six months as selectmen begin the process of hiring a permanent new town administrator.

Senchyshyn will take over for former Town Administrator Fred Turkington, whom selectmen fired without cause in August.

CONCERNS

·     Senchyshyn said the move would further burden him since he is currently in the process of negotiating contracts and anticipates more negotiations for other contracts in 2014. “It will be a juggling act and at certain times things may fall behind,” he told the board.

·     Seletcman Steven Correia said he was worried the board had not had an open discussion on the impacts of hiring a temporary town administrator, such as his salary and workload. “ have no clue what I am voting on,” he said.

·     Selectmen Joe Nolan said he was worried, because of the motion being crafted in way that could mean revoting on whether to fire Turkington, that it would look like the board was repeating the termination decision.

·     Town Counsel Mark Lanza said the motion was crafted that way based on legal technicalities. Basically, the motion would make sure the title was officially “acting town administrator” instead of interim town administrator.

·     Lanza said approving the motion would not change the original termination motion.