The Great Gadfly

A mind is a beautiful thing to change

County changes its minds about skills needed for Commission  Exec Director
Deadline passes, new job description different than last week's

By Peter Kenney 

Barnstable County has apparently changed its mind about what skills the new Executive Director of the Cape Commission should have. The position is open due to the recent retirement of Margo Fenn, who had been employed by the commission for its entire seventeen year history and had been executive director since 1999. Originally posted on June 1st the job description was for a planner and/or attorney with ten years experience. The deadline for applications under the original posting was June 29th.

Despite "boxes of applications"  county advertises the position again and changes the skills required County Commissioner Bill Doherty had said that the response to the posting was so great that the selection committee was sending out "boxes of applications." Apparently one man's box is another man's bust. Barnstable County has posted the job on its website again. The new posting for the job was announced on July 27th and both the job description and salary range differ considerably from the original job description.

 Deception; Was planner/lawyer. Now " broad governmental management experience"

Whereas the first posting called for applicants to be planners or lawyers, the new posting says in its first two lines, "Barnstable County is seeking an Executive Director for the Cape Cod Commission. The ideal candidate would have broad governmental management experience as well as experience in planning." Also, whereas the original posting stated the salary as being in the $80,000 - $100,000 range, the new posting says, "Salary: Depends on Qualifications."

Margo Fenn was being paid $85,000 when she retired.

Twenty-First century Task Force; salary should be in the range of $125,000 and higher to attract someone of sufficient experience and competence.Among both commission supporters and opponents, including members of the former Twenty-First century Task Force, which conducted a six month review of the commission's performance in 2006, many have been heard to say that two things are critical find the right person to replace Margo Fenn. The first is that the new Executive Director should be primarily a manager and should have in-depth knowledge of the workings of municipal, county and state government. The second comment has been that the salary should be in the range of $125,000 and higher to attract someone of sufficient experience and competence.

Apparently these two observations have made their way into the thinking of the three Barnstable Commissioners. The deadline for applicants to file is now August 13th.  Margo Fenn's final day as Executive Director was Wednesday, June 18th. John Lippman, Fenn's Deputy Director will serve as interim Executive Director until Fenn's successor is in place.