Marblehead To Consider John McGinn As Interim Administrator

MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Marblehead Board of Selectmen will consider and possibly vote on a return of John McGinn as town administrator on an interim basis on Wednesday as the town navigates a somewhat uncharted path to the replacement of Jason Silva.

With no formal process in place to select either an interim or full-time administrator, the Board voted on Monday to authorize Chair Jackie Belf-Becker to reach out to potentially interested candidates — which she had already begun doing — to bring back to the Board for a vote.

Silva tendered his resignation last week without giving a reason for his departure.

Most of the discussion during Monday morning's meeting —which had the agenda item of a discussion and possible vote on an interim town administrator — was the process itself. While Belf-Becker said she acted within her authority in immediately reaching out to potential interim candidates upon notification of Silva's resignation, Board of Selectmen member Erin Noonan sought discussion of a more formal process before the search process began.

"I was told, in no uncertain terms, that I was doing what I should be doing as chair," Belf-Becker said of her discussions with town counsel last week. "(Finding a candidate) to fill the void for three to five months. We have budgets, collective bargaining, town meeting, to name a few (pressing issues)."

McGinn preceded Silva as the town's administrator, serving from 2014 to 2018. He served in the public sector for 41 years, including 14 years in Marblehead. The former Peabody city councilor and school committee member was the finance director in Somerville before coming to Marblehead to serve in that position in 2004.

"If we can get John to fill the possible we would be extremely lucky," Belf-Becker said. "This is the way this issue has always been handled in the past. This is a short-term fix."

Belf-Becker said that along with voting on the interim administrator, the Board on Wednesday will discuss how to proceed with consulting groups to find a full-time replacement for Silva.

"I expect robust discussion and I think we will all come to a place where we can work well together," Belf-Becker said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)