Board of Selectmen Renews Town Admin Contract

The Wrentham Board of Selectmen voted to extend the contract of town administrator William Ketcham by two years at its meeting Tuesday night.

The board members went over their evaluations of Ketcham, and generally agreed that he exceeded expectations.

"By us granting him a two percent [salary] increase, that's us saying we'll extend him another two years," board Chairman Joseph Botaish said.

Selectman Michael Carroll suggested the board look at the way Ketcham's contract is structured.

"One thing to consider is that he is paid substantially lower than department heads and other town administrators," he said. "I'm not suggesting we change his salary right now, but I am suggesting we could amend his contract."

Botaish, though, said the current contract includes incentives for finding grants for the town.

"This was about creating the motivation to pretty much write his own paycheck," he said.

Ketcham was hired last November to replace town administrator Jack McFeeley.