Arlington selectmen pick deputy manager Chapdelaine as new town manager

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

After receiving 40 applications for Arlington’s town manager job, selectmen voted unanimously Monday to promote deputy town manager Adam Chapdelaine to the post.

Chapdelaine, 32, will assume the town manager role on Feb. 24 when current Town Manager Brian Sullivan retires.

Chapdelaine has been the deputy town manager for Arlington for about two years after serving as city administrator for Fall River.

Selectmen chose Chapdelaine after interviews Monday night with him and fellow finalist John Petrin, the town manager of Ashland.

Board chairwoman Clarissa Rowe said one of the key reasons selectmen selected Chapdelaine has been the support he’s received from department heads and municipal employees in Arlington. Rowe said the employees have made a “tremendous” effort to tell selectmen they liked working with Chapdelaine.

While selectmen spent considerable time and hired a consultant to help screen candidates from outside the town, Rowe said she believed the process was necessary to make sure Chapdelaine was their top choice.

“I think it would have been a disservice to the town had we gone right to him,” Rowe said.

The town will now begin negotiating Chapdelaine’s contract, Rowe said.

Chapdelaine said he has been fortunate to have opportunities that have enabled him to become a town manager at such a young age.

"I'm really gratified that the board has put their faith in me to be the next town manager of Arlington," he said.

Chapdelaine said he's up to the task, and one of the big challenges the town needs to look at is how to create new growth and a master plan for the town that is supported by residents.

--brock.globe@gmail.com