Five candidates for the new Facilities Manager position were interviewed Thursday evening. Two finalists were selected for another round of interviews.

When the Select Board convened at 6:00 pm, Mr. Cronin, who had led a work group to craft the job description and 3 year workplan, reviewed the key components of the position: Communication, Certification in Facilities related fields, Related experience to Facilities management, and Supervisory experience.

Mr. Cronin announced that he has a personal relationship with one of the five candidates. He therefore recused himself from this phase of the interviews – and departed from the meeting. If his acquaintance is not one of the finalists, he will return for the next meeting to interview those two candidates.

The five candidates interviewed were Steven D. Choiniere, James Keast, Wayne Langille, Gregg Lefter, and Christopher Pizzi. Each candidate was asked the same questions – making an apples-to-apples comparison possible. Mr. Ahronian invited questions from the small audience of residents in attendance. Thomas Chipman, a Park Commissioner and licensed electrician, did ask each candidate technical questions about the building trades.

Each candidate acquitted himself well responding to the Board’s questions. A wide range of experience and educational background we shared by the candidates. When the interviews were concluded, two of the candidates seemed to emerge from the pack.

The Board was unified in ranking Gregg Lefter and Christopher Pizzi as the two candidates that should advance to the next phase of interviews. A motion stated that was approved.

Gregg Lefter earned a Masters degree in Facilities Management from Northeastern University. He served as Facilities Manager in Maynard and in a similar capacity for the Assabet Valley Regional Technical School. He has experience in the manufacturing industry and is himself a licensed building contractor. He pointed out his continuing interest in the latest technology used to collect and analyze data from all facets of facilities operations and finances. When asked about how he would persuade citizens to support capital expenditure on the town’s facilities he said, “If you love Holliston the way it is, you have to preserve your assets.”

Christopher Pizzi holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Facilities Management. His extensive experience in the field has seen his duties grow from an entry-level employee to currently heading up a large facilities department for a regional retailer. He has developed capital plans in his work. His department includes a division focused on energy savings and sustainability. In response to the same question about securing citizen support for capital expenditure, he said, “It is all about demonstrating the Return on Investment.”

The interview meeting was adjourned at 7:42 pm.

The final interviews and selection will take place during the Board’s next meeting, Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 7:00 pm.