By Grace Allen

The Norfolk Select Board is moving closer to naming a new town administrator, with interviews and candidate reviews now well underway.

Select Board Chair Anita Mecklenburg said the town hopes to have a finalist selected this month, and the new administrator on the job by early 2026.

“I’m very hopeful that we’ll have a name to bring forward in early December and someone on the ground early in the new year,” Mecklenburg said.

The search is being conducted with the assistance of Municipal Resources, Inc. (MRI), a consulting firm that specializes in municipal hiring. MRI interviewed each Select Board member, collected input from town staff through anonymous channels, and facilitated the posting and applicant review process.

A six-member screening committee, composed of residents who volunteered for the role, is now reviewing candidates and will narrow the pool to three finalists to be interviewed by the Select Board. 

Norfolk received 34 applications, including some from out-of-state and one international candidate. While the screening committee is evaluating all applicants, Mecklenburg emphasized that experience with Massachusetts municipal government will be essential.

“The finalists have to be familiar with Massachusetts policies and procedures,” she said. “We want someone who can hit the ground running.”

The next town administrator will face several challenges immediately upon arrival, including a difficult budget cycle. Mecklenburg said financial planning will be the first major task, followed by ongoing work on the town’s master plan and the need to explore sewer expansion in the town center to support local business development.

“We need somebody who’s experienced, a good communicator, and who can work in partnership with both citizens and employees,” Mecklenburg said. “Norfolk has unique challenges because of its size and limited commercial development, so we need someone proactive and problem-solving.”

The town’s previous administrator, Justin Casanova-Davis, left at the end of June after serving as town administrator since 2022. He is now Bridgewater’s town manager.

Michael Gallagher has been serving as interim town administrator on a part-time basis since Casanova-Davis’s departure. A retired municipal administrator, Gallagher works 20 hours per week, a schedule that allows him to maintain his pension benefits while helping the town manage expenses until a permanent replacement is appointed.

“He’s working really hard and brings a wealth of experience from other communities,” Mecklenburg offered. “Department heads have not felt a lack of leadership, and he’s been great to work with.”

Once the screening committee presents its three recommendations, the Select Board will conduct final interviews and begin contract negotiations with the selected candidate.