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West Goshen, Pa. manager drafted for Provincetown position, pending negotiations |
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Lynn’s in
By Stefan Sirucek
BANNER CORRESPONDENT
PROVINCETOWN — And then there was one.
The board of selectmen met Friday to discuss Provincetown’s soon-to-be-vacant town manager position and came up with a unanimous decision — Sharon Lynn will be the next town manager.
The field had been narrowed from four candidates to two at the board’s last meeting: Lynn, currently township manager of West Goshen, Pa., and Michael Coughlin, former city manager of Northbridge and Southbridge.
Before the vote, the selectmen spoke in turn about the two candidates, discussing the merits and particular strengths of each before voicing their own preference.
Selectman David Nicolau described the candidates as nearly “neck and neck” in his view but eventually came out in favor of Lynn. “Sharon’s familiarity with the town I think would be a plus,” said Nicolau.
“I feel that she really knows the town,” said Selectman and state Rep. Sarah Peake, adding she believed Lynn’s familiarity with local issues was more important than her relative lack of experience with Massachusetts law. Peake has known Lynn since she applied for the police chief position in 2001. (See related sidebar page 19.)
Peake said she believes Lynn, who owns property and vacations in town, possesses a genuine desire to become part of Provincetown.
“This isn’t somebody who, in her 11 years as town manager, has been out fishing for jobs,” said Peake. “She applied here, didn’t get the chief’s job, this job has come up now and she’s applied for it. … My sense is that she really wants to be in Provincetown.”
Conversely, Peake was concerned that Coughlin was perhaps more interested in the available position than in the town itself, and that he wouldn’t be interested in Provincetown if he were employed elsewhere.
Peake also cited Coughlin’s departures from his previous positions, which she described as “rife with controversy,” as a matter of concern. “It sends up a red flag,” said Peake.
Selectman Richard Olson, who stated his preference for Coughlin, expressed the belief that a controversial past should not itself be a disqualifying factor.
“Sometimes someone who has had controversy has provoked that controversy for the right reasons,” said Olson. “Sometimes controversy means that you have integrity.”
Selectman Michele Couture said she was impressed by Lynn’s professional biography, noting that she “rose through the ranks” as a police officer and a detective before becoming township manager of West Goshen.
“I think it speaks very well of Ms. Lynn,” said Couture, adding that she believed Lynn’s familiarity with many different town positions, as well as her knowledge of wastewater and affordable housing issues, would be an asset.
Chair Cheryl Andrews, who spoke last, said she’d originally been drawn to Coughlin, perhaps, she mused, because he exuded a strength and competence that reminded her of outgoing town manager Keith Bergman.
However, Andrews soon became a Lynn supporter herself, she said, adding that she had been struck by a “groundswell of interest in Sharon Lynn” within the Provincetown community.
“In the end I think there’s a lot of support here for Sharon Lynn,” said Andrews, noting that she hadn’t seen a similar public interest in Michael Coughlin.
When it came time for the vote to authorize consultant Thomas Groux to open negotiations with Lynn for the position of town manager, each selectman responded with the affirmative “aye.”
“Five — zero,” said Andrews. “We have a vote.”
Contacted by the Banner over the weekend, Lynn said she was “elated” about the decision. (See statement by Lynn page 19.)
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Old motel may get new, affordable lease on life
In the News
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Mar 8th, 2007