YARMOUTH – Yarmouth selectmen, in a unanimous 5-0 vote Saturday, chose Daniel Knapik as their next town administrator.
The decision to offer the Department of Energy Resources green communities director the job is expected to bring nearly a year of turmoil over the position to a close.
Knapik, a former western Massachusetts mayor, was chosen over Harwich Town Administrator Christopher Clark.
There were three finalists for the position out of the 32 who applied, but one of the finalists dropped out.
Interim Town Administrator Peter Johnson-Staub left Yarmouth to become the new assistant town manager in Falmouth earlier this month.
Former Yarmouth Town Administrator Robert Lawton is currently serving in his old job on an interim basis until a permanent administrator is in place.
“He clearly showed knowledge of the community, leadership and vision,” said Selectman Tracy Post on her decision to vote for Knapik. She said one of the biggest challenges he’ll face is making the transition from elected and political positions to an administrator.
The hire is dependent of a successful contract negotiation, which will be lead by Selectman Mike Stone.
Post said they expected to have a contract ready by the beginning of December.
Johnson-Staub was previously a finalist for the position when selectmen were considering William Hinchey’s replacement in January, but withdrew his name after selectmen couldn’t agree on offering him the position.
Stone and Selectman James Quirk refused to vote for Johnson-Staub, ignoring the overwhelming will of the town meeting earlier this year which took a non-binding vote in favor of giving him the job.
The Yarmouth town charter requires a 4/5’s majority of selectmen to hire a new administrator.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
