SOUTHBRIDGE – The Town Council selected a candidate Thursday night to serve as that communities town manager after interviewing the three finalist for the post, including Mayor Daniel M. Knapik.
The nine-member Town Council voted 8-1 to offer the post to Ronald S. San Angelo, who is currently the Hanson town administrator. Knapik received one vote.
The town used a search committee to thin the herd of 22 applicants down to seven semifinalists. That committee then sent the names of the three finalists, Knapik, San Angelo and Michael E. Embury of North Kingston, R.I, to the town council for a further interview round conducted last night before the vote to select San Angelo was made.
Town Council Chairman Shaun M. Moriarty said Friday morning that the council had a problem, “but it was a nice problem to have because all of the (final) candidates were so well qualified. But that was a nice problem to have.”
“However, the majority of the council felt that Mr. San Angelo brought a good deal of energy and creative thinking that seemed to meld with the council and search committee members,” Moriarty said.
“At no point was anyone opposed to Mr. Knapik,” Moriarty said. “It was the case that the council felt that Mr. San Angelo stood out above the rest of the field.”
Knapik said yesterday morning that he enjoyed the interview process and the opportunity to look at another form of government, to compare the benefits and problems of Westfield and Southbridge.
“It was a good opportunity to interview for a job like this, at the highest levels of the selection process,” Knapik said.
“So where do I go from here? I’m going to enjoy the summer and will continue to work on a number of projects to keep them moving forward,” Knapik said. “I hope to spend some time with my family on vacation at the Cape (Cod). We’ve enjoyed that in the past.”
Knapik said he intends to pursue further expansion of the Westfield River Levee Riverwalk between North Elm Street and Sackett Street, the next phase of improvements to Route 187, which includes Little River Road, and upgrades to sections of Shaker Road at the Little River Road intersection.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Little River Road improvement on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall.
Knapik said other projects include renovations at the Westfield Police Department headquarters at 15 Washington St., and improvements to Bullens Field as the city pursues possibilities of host a Babe Ruth World Series as early as 2016.
“There is also the Columbia Greenway expansion, Western Avenue improvements and the (elementary) school project to move forward,” Knapik said.
