Great Barrington town manager Jennifer Tabakin is a finalist to become town administrator in Adams. Photo: David Scribner

Great Barrington town manager a finalist for similar post in Adams

The Adams town administrator search is being conducted by Community Paradigm Associates, the same firm that is leading the search for Tabakin's successor in Great Barrington. Paradigm principal Bernie Lynch did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Great Barrington — Outgoing Great Barrington town manager Jennifer Tabakin is a finalist to become town administrator in the town of Adams.

The news comes as the town of Great Barrington enters the active phase of its search to replace Tabakin, who announced last May that she would not seek to have her contract renewed when it expires at the end of June of this year.

In addition, the town will have to look for a successor to principal assessor Chris Lamarre, who recently resigned to take the same position in Williamstown.

In an Edge interview, Tabakin confirmed her candidacy for the post in Adams, calling it a “beautiful and impressive town” with “a historic downtown.”

In the Housie Dome, Great Barrington town manager Jennifer Tabakin addresses a panel from the Department of Public Utilities during a hearing in 2016 on Housatonic Water Works’ water rates. Photo: David Scribner

“I’m really honored to be a finalist for the position in Adams,” Tabakin said. “It’s a real compliment to be considered.”

Tabakin was hired as Great Barrington town manager in 2013, fresh from her job as a capital projects manager in the administration of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s degree in urban and community planning from New York University, and has a certificate in local government management and public administration from Suffolk University. Click here to view her LinkedIn page.

“My career in public service is over 20 years and I’ve been fortunate to work with some fine people,” Tabakin said. “It’s no secret that I love to work in town halls.”

Tabakin said the difference between a town manager and a town administrator depends on the town’s charter, but in the case of Adams, the town administrator’s responsibilities are similar to her current job in Great Barrington.

The state Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services agrees, noting that, “On a case-by-case basis, though, the difference between a town administrator and town manager can also be purely semantic.”

The towns are also similar in size. Adams, the third largest municipality by population in Berkshire County, has a full-time population of about 8,500, while Great Barrington’s is just over 7,000. Click here to read the town administrator’s job description on the Adams town website.

Bernie Lynch of the consulting firm Paradigm Associates leading a discussion at Great Barrington Town Hall in November 2018 about the process of finding a town manager to replace Jennifer Tabakin, who will be leaving in June 2019. In the front row are Great Barrington Selectboard members Bill Cooke, Chairman Steve Bannon and Dan Bailly. Photo: Andrew Blechman

The Adams town administrator search is being conducted by Community Paradigm Associates, the same firm that is leading the search for Tabakin’s successor in Great Barrington. Paradigm principal Bernie Lynch did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Adams Town Hall is closed on Fridays and John Duval, who chairs the board of selectmen, could not be reached for comment via email or at his home phone. According to a report in iBerkshires, the Adams board of selectmen plan to interview Tabakin and the other two finalists Saturday, Feb. 16, with a final decision to be made at the board’s next regular meeting. Originally there were 17 applicants.

It is not clear how precisely much the town of Adams is willing to pay. In April, the selectmen set aside $95,000 in the budget for the town administrator’s salary. In Great Barrington, Tabakin is earning slightly more than $120,000.

Earlier this month, the Great Barrington Selectboard appointed a seven-member town manager search committee to find Tabakin’s replacement consisting of Anne O’Dwyer, John Katz, Krista Haley, Peter Taylor, Michael Wise, Sean Stanton and Ben Downing.

The first meeting of the panel will be Friday, Feb. 22, at 11 a.m. in Town Hall. The committee will elect officers and adjourn to executive session to meet with the search firm’s representative, who will provide a summary of the search thus far. Click here to see the agenda.

Selectboard Chairman Steve Bannon told The Edge the next meeting of the search committee will be Wednesday, March 6, with public interviews with finalists slated for late March.