Search Begins for New Town Administrator

The next Milford town administrator should have an advanced degree in business or management, will take an active role in budget formation and earn between $90,000 and $125,000.

Selectmen approved the job description, education requirements and salary range as part of its regular meeting Monday. The board largely approved the suggestions of current Town Administrator Louis Celozzi, while making a few adjustments for education requirements and description of duties.

Celozzi last month announced his plans to retire. He will step down at the end of March, and selectmen said Monday they hope to have his successor in place for at least a few weeks prior to Celozzi's departure.

Initially, the education component was listed as "Basic Knowledge," and the candidate would have been required to have earned the equivalent of a master's degree in business administration, accounting or public administration, with knowledge of state, federal and local bylaws.

Selectmen renamed this section of the job description as "Education" and inserted the statement "Master's degree strongly preferred in these areas."

Said board member Dino DeBartolomeis: "Any solid, serious person is going to have the education."

The position will be advertised locally, as well as in the Boston Globe, and in a trade publication, The Beacon, which caters to public management positions.

Selectmen said the advertising will run for the next two months. The deadline for applications will be Dec. 28. The board hopes to make an appointment in February.