Updated May 18.
A familiar face has been selected to take the helm of Oak Bluffs Town Hall.
The Oak Bluffs Select Board held a special meeting on Saturday morning to interview two finalists for town administrator: Wendy Brough, who’s been the acting town administrator since April 9, and James Kreidler, former town manager of Winchendon, Mass. and founder of Muni-Sun LLC, a firm that helps municipalities with solar projects.
After over three hours of interviews and deliberation, the board unanimously voted to enter into contract negotiations with Brough. Emma Green-Beach and Sean Debettencourt will be the select board representatives of the negotiation team. The town will also consider whether to fill the assistant town administrator position held by Brough.
The board commended both candidates as excellent finalists. Ultimately, they decided to move forward with Brough, highlighting her 22-year dedication to the town and her skills as a project manager. Brough was also viewed as a long-term solution as someone with extensive knowledge of the town and who already has housing on the Vineyard, where available units are scarce.
Brough’s worked in Oak Bluffs for 22 years and became assistant town administrator in 2021. She held the town administrator seat twice in an interim capacity, including in 2021, before being selected on Saturday. Brough had also interviewed to be town administrator in 2021.
Dion Alley, select board chair, said the Saturday decision was a “significant milestone” for the search process that began in March. Alley also said he felt the town will have an opportunity to grow alongside Brough in her new role.
“I’m excited for what comes next,” Alley said.
Bill Cleary, the newest select board member, joined his fellow board members in a desire to work with Brough to craft a vision to improve Oak Bluffs.
“We’re not a sleepy little fishing village or a sleepy little tourist town anymore,” said Bill Cleary, the newest select board member, who highlighted the town’s now over $45 million annual budget.
If contract negotiations are successful, Brough will replace Deborah Potter, who entered into her final town administrator contract in August and retired last month. Potter, who was hired as town administrator in 2021, will help ensure a smooth transition. Potter also attended the meetings over Zoom.
While Brough admitted she was still learning about a “multifaceted” leadership position, she said she understands 80 percent of the town administrator’s role and is becoming more accustomed to topics less familiar to her, such as housing. She also said she has some off-Island town administrators who have offered to help her.
“You need every skill,” Brough said of being a town administrator.
She cited a need for clear communication with town department heads and the community, especially to retain talented employees but also to determine where efforts should be focused for capital projects and budgets. Brough highlighted that Oak Bluffs has various costly projects it is undertaking, including strengthening infrastructure against rising sea levels and dredging. She highlighted that the town needs input from the community and its various departments to determine where money should be allocated.
And Oak Bluffs needs to keep monitoring its funding, as could be seen when a $1.9 million override to fill gaps in the town budget was needed last month. She underscored that keeping tabs on town finances was even more important now because of the looming reconstruction of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, a massive undertaking expected to cost the entire Island $333.5 million. An Island-wide vote is taking place June 2.
During her interview, Brough highlighted various ways she thinks the town can improve its governance, including earlier preparation for town meetings and more direct communication to residents through the help of schools and churches.
Pursuing the town administrator role wasn’t an overnight decision. Brough said she thought hard about it, but ultimately came to the conclusion, “Why not?” because she already has extensive knowledge of the town and feels she can represent the characteristics valued by Oak Bluffs residents: hard work and honesty.
Brough also said she doesn’t “step back from a challenge.”
“I discovered I have a bit of fearlessness, which is exciting,” Brough said, adding she wants to help Oak Bluffs and bolster support for town departmental leaders.
Editor’s note: A clarification was made to when Deborah Potter retired.