Search for Stoughton Police Chief Search Firm Restarted

STOUGHTON, MA — The search for the next police chief Stoughton hit another bump in the road following an issue involving the hiring of a consultant.

Last week, the board voted to accept the hiring process and qualifications for the position, and hire BadgeQuest to conduct an assessment center for $10,000. However, the job was never posted and the town never entered a contract with the consultants following concerns raised by town counsel.

"Everything else it done, we just want to make sure everything is done by the rules. I’m sorry. I’m probably one of the problems at this. I could pick any department but police and fire and I apologize for this," Selectman Vice-Chair Robert Cohn said.

In a letter read at the meeting by Robert O'Regan, attorney Brian Winter called the process to give BadgeQuest the contract murky and difficult to ascertain with certainly how the contract was procured.

"I therefore recommend that the town take the actions outlined below by following the request for quotes process for procurement of supplies and services with a dollar value of between $10,000 and $50,000," the letter read.

Following the reading of the letter, the board voted to adopt the recommendations of the letter, offer to accept bids from 12 of the 13 recommended firms, set a deadline of Nov. 28, and hold a meeting on Nov. 29 to consider the bids.

Since March, Lt. Donna McNamara has served as the interim chief.