EAST LONGMEADOW – The Town Council unanimously selected acting Town Manager Denise Menard to fill the role full time.

Menard was chosen out of three finalists who interviewed for the position Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Thomas Guerino, the town administrator of Bourne, and Harwich Town Administrator Christopher Clark were interviewed on Nov. 30 and the following day the council interviewed Menard. After Menard’s interview the council shared their thoughts about the candidates.

Town Council Vice President Paul Federici, who proposed the motion to hire Menard, said all three finalists were qualified for the position and have the background and expertise to run the town.

“The way I looked at all of them is you’re going into this situation where the whole town government is changing,” he explained. “I know from things I’ve heard and things that people have told me there’s pushback with some town employees and with some departments. Things are going to change.”

Town Councilor Eric Madison said he believes all three candidates were good choices as well. His top choice was Menard, followed by Guerino, and his last choice was Clark.

He told his fellow councilors, “I kind of walked into this evening kind of favoring Mr. Guerino, but then we just sat through Denise Menard and I’ll be honest with you guys, I was reminded of something tonight in listening to her – she’s a manager that I think can affect change, but she’s got some aspects to her that I think we all need to consider. She’s got the compassion; the style; the demeanor that is not only embraced by the workforce, but by the community, by the residents. She’s a manager that enables people to succeed, but at the same time holds them accountable. And I think that’s a unique skill.”

Town Council President Kevin Manley said he also favored Menard for the job.

“She has already affected some great change in our organization. Even with her limited capacity for being an [acting town manager] she’s made some very serious changes and made some serious impacts on overall operability in our town.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Town Councilor Joseph Ford proposed contract negotiations with Menard commence at the council’s next meeting on Dec. 13, which was agreed upon by the council.      

Menard later told Reminder Publications her acting town manager contract is due to expire Dec. 15.  

Menard, a 38-year resident of Enfield, CT, who previously served as first selectman of the community, said she has spoken with her husband about the possibility of moving to East Longmeadow.

“Certainly if that’s what we needed to do, we would,” she explained. “I was then asked [by the council] how long it took me to get to work. It takes me between 20 and 25 minutes. It’s 17 miles from here. They didn’t seem to think that it was a huge hurdle, nor did I.”

East Longmeadow’s town manager is required to live in the community, but the council could waiver that requirement.

She added she could see herself remaining as town manager for a decade or more.

Her work as acting town manager has given her an insight into East Longmeadow and helped her build working relationships with employees, elected officials, and residents.

“We have a wonderful community here and great employees and I’m so excited to be a part of the team permanently,” she noted.

When asked about her priorities for the town in the future, she replied, “Certainly foremost is the priority of establishing a good healthy solid foundation for this new form of government and I think we’re on a very positive road there already. The residents have a good Town Council representing them and I have a positive relationship with them. And I think going forward we’ll all move in a good direction for the town.”

She added construction of the town offices has started in order to house a human resources department.

Menard said she would also need to obtain a list from the council about what they believe would be priorities for East Longmeadow in the future, which would directly inform the work she would accomplish.

“They’re the ones that have been here for a long time,” she added. “They’re much more involved than a newcomer. So, we will be a team together and set priorities that they find are needed in the community and I am then the person that gets those done.”