Sudbury Expected To Hire Firm For Town Manager Searcch

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury this week will take two major steps toward picking a new town manager following the resignation of Henry Hayes in June.

The Select Board will meet Tuesday to interview two executive search firms: Plymouth-based Community Paradigm Associates and Municipal Resources Inc. of Plymouth, New Hampshire.

Sudbury hired Community Paradigm Associates (CPA) in 2019 after Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues left to become North Andover's town manager. The firm's work in 2019 and 2020 led to Hayes getting the job. CPA is one of the leading executive search firms in the state, and counts Natick and Wayland as clients — both towns have either recently replaced or are in the process of finding town managers.

The Select Board will meet again Wednesday to vote to select a search firm. The board will also vote to allow interim Town Manager Maryanne Bilodeau to enter into a contract with the selected firm.

Hayes, a former Hanscom Air Force Base commander, became town manager in April 2020 with a contract that was supposed to expire in March 2023. Hayes and Select Board Chair Charlie Russo announced the separation in early June with no specific reason given for Hayes' departure.

Bilodeau will serve as town manager until a permanent replacement is chosen. This will be Bilodeau's third turn as the interim town manager: she served in the role after Maureen Valente left in 2015, and after Murphy-Rodrigues resigned.