WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen on Monday finalized a contract to appoint retired Town Manager Peter Fohlin as interim town manager and appointed Public Works Director Tim Kaiser as acting town manager during Fohlin's one-month absence.

 

Fohlin retired from the position effective Sunday, and Massachusetts law does not allow him to return to work for the town within a month of his retirement date.

 

So even though Fohlin has agreed to return on an interim basis until a permanent successor is hired, Kaiser will temporarily be the final authority on town affairs on a day-to-day basis.

 

Not that Kaiser expects to throw his weight around too much.

 

"You're in good hands," Kaiser said. "The town has a very good staff. They know what they're doing, and they do it very well.

 

"I'll just try to make sure the ship doesn't run aground the next month before Peter gets back."

 

Kaiser has been acting town manager in the past, filling in for Fohlin while he was away on vacation.

 

The contract for Fohlin's interim appointment calls for his appointment up to Aug. 28, but the board hopes to have a permanent replacement on board before then.

 

Selectman Thomas Sheldon reported to his colleagues on Monday night that the headhunter hired to find the new town manager received 30 applications.

 

GovHR of Illinois is vetting those applicants and conducting Skype interviews with an eye toward delivering a list of possibilities to the town's screening committee on May 11, Sheldon said. 

 

That committee will then conduct private interviews before giving the Selectmen a short list later in May for public interviews.

 

Moments after Kaiser was named the acting town manager on Monday evening, he performed his first official task: delivering the last town manager's report prepared by Fohlin in his 15-year tenure at Town Hall.

 

The highlight of the report was the news that the town has finalized its power purchase agreement with Solar City to operate an up-to 2.5 million killowatt-hour photovoltaic project on the town's capped landfill.

 

The town and solar power producer also have a memorandum of agreement that will allow Solar City to install a 1.0 million Kwh private project or for both the town and Solar City to opt out if there are no net metering credits available.

 

The commonwealth's net metering cap for municipal projects is already met, and it is near meeting the cap for private projects, but Fohlin reported that the legislature may increase the municipal cap, which would allow for a more lucrative facility for the town.

 

"We're confident that will happen," Kaiser said.

 

In other business on Monday, the board in its capacity as liquor licensing authority, approved a change of manager at Taconic Golf Course, where David Travisano takes over for Dominic Sachet.