DANVERS — Select Board Chair Daniel Bennett said Friday he was sorry to learn that Town Manager Steve Bartha had received a conditional offer to become Lexington’s next town manager.
Bartha was interviewed publicly for the Lexington job in late August, after being named one of three finalists. He was offered the job Wednesday night as the Lexington board met to make its final decision.
Bartha said he met with Bennett Thursday morning and informed him of the move. They then decided to make the news public that evening.
“This was not an easy decision, Bartha said. “This fall will mark 10 years that I have served the town of Danvers, and I have enjoyed the heck out of that time. We have accomplished a lot as a community, as a board and as an organization — things I am very proud of.”
Bennett, who was preparing to depart for a two-week vacation, said Bartha had told him the offer will not be finalized until after he meets with Lexington officials for contract negotiations this week.
The negotiations, Bennett said, will probably involve issues such as salary, insurance, car allowance and vacation time. He said Lexington will be working from the terms of its former manager’s contract, and Bartha will be working from his own as Danvers’ chief executive.
But “I’m not going anywhere yet,” Bartha said. “We still have work to do.”
Bennett said he had asked Bartha to begin the process of securing a firm to lead the search for his successor. He said the town manager will be working on a job template for the recruiting firm, allowing the town to send out a request for proposals by the first of October, with the aim to begin interviewing by the first of the year.
Bartha said he expects to remain at his post in Danvers until about Oct. 25. He said he had asked Lexington to allow him the six weeks’ notice to give him time “to put things in place for a smooth transition.”
When asked about Danvers’ plans for naming an interim town manager, Bennett said that would be the first priority of the Select Board when he returns from vacation.
“We hope to hire in-house,” he said.