COHASSET — The Select Board unanimously approved an employment contract for Michelle Leary Tuesday night, completing contract negotiations following her selection as Cohasset's next town manager.
The vote came after the board met in executive session to discuss the agreement. Before returning to open session, members negotiated the contract, then voted 5-0 to approve it. Chair David Farrag said the agreement will be posted publicly after it has been executed by all parties.
Before the vote, Farrag outlined the process the board followed to negotiate the contract, saying it relied on both outside labor counsel and comparable agreements from other municipalities.
"As a part of the town manager contract, as you remember, the town went through the process of choosing a town manager. We had the interviews. We had, of course, the committee go through it, whittle down the candidates, and then we interviewed the top three."
Farrag said the board worked with outside labor counsel, Clifford & Kenny of Pembroke, to negotiate the agreement and obtain comparable town manager contracts from similar communities. He said he and Vice Chair Ellen Maher were selected by the board to participate in the negotiations and also conducted their own research on comparable compensation.
"We came to an agreement on the contract, which we discussed in executive session, and now we're here to vote on the contract to make it final," Farrag said before the board's unanimous vote.
The employment agreement follows a hiring process that included a screening committee, interviews with finalists and contract negotiations before the board selected Leary for the position.
After the vote, board members congratulated Leary and welcomed her into the role.
"Just want to tell you from a board member who's worked here for a long time, thrilled. Congratulations on becoming our official town manager. Really glad to have you."
Farrag also praised Leary's progression through town government, noting the work that led to her appointment.
"We're very, very lucky to have somebody put in all that effort and all the hours that it took in order to become the town manager."