New administrator chosen in Wayland

WAYLAND – The Board of Selectmen Monday night unanimously chose Nan Balmer as the next town administrator, nearly a year after the abrupt firing of Fred Turkington in a 3-1 vote.

Balmer, assistant town administrator in Eastham, said in an interview with the selectmen on Monday night that "Wayland is a great community. It’s a very beautiful place, and place matters to me.

"The other piece that’s so interesting to me is that it’s so citizen-driven," she added.

Balmer said the fact that Wayland residents are so involved and passionate about town government could be challenging, but she also sees it as a strength.

The town’s consultant MRI will now make a conditional offer to Balmer,  contingent on a background check and contract negotiations.

Balmer was chosen over the other finalist, Joseph J. Domelowicz Jr. of Swampscott, assistant to the town manager in Winthrop.

A third finalist – Lee Staab, president of Versar Engineering and Construction – dropped out of the running when he accepted an offer to become city manager of Minot, North Dakota, according to KXMC-TV. Minot City Council President Mark Jantzer said Staab would be offered an annual salary of $145,000.

Before working in Eastham, Balmer was the assistant town administrator in Harwich from 2007 to 2011, and an office manager in the town administrator’s office in Orleans from 2006 to 2007.

"My diverse experience in rural, small town and city government as an administrator and department head makes me skilled at managing organizations through transition and setting fresh directions," Balmer wrote in her application.

Balmer earned a master of public administration degree from Kutztown University and bachelor of science in community development from Pennsylvania State University.

Robert Mercier has been serving as Wayland’s interim town administrator for the past year.

Turkington, the former administrator, was recently chosen as the new town administrator in Sharon.