Contract talks, housing search next for town administrator pick

By L.E. Crowley
Town Correspondent

Patricia Vinchesi, whom selectmen chose as the next town administrator, said she looks forward to moving to Scituate and leading the community during these tough financial times.

“I’m really pleased that the board has appointed me,” said Vinchesi, who now must negotiate a contract with selectmen. “I really, really like the town and look forward to fruitful negotiations.’’

The 48-year-old Vinchesi was unanimously chosen by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday to replace Richard Agnew, who has led the town for 19 years. She lives in Conway, Mass., more than two hours away, and is deputy executive director of Springfield’s Financial Control Board. Before that, she was town administrator for more than seven years in South Hadley and Longmeadow.

Vinchesi will be the first woman to fill the Scituate town administrator job.

Selectmen have not given a salary range, but said pay would be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Agnew, who will end his tenure June 30, made about $120,000 last year.

Selectmen Chairman Joseph Norton said board members will begin contract negotiations as soon as possible and will try to have Vinchesi on board not long after Agnew departs. However, a July 1 start is questionable because of Vinchesi’s commitments to Springfield.

Norton said all four finalists were top-notch and board members had a tough decision. However, when Selectman John Danahey make the motion to name Vinchesi to the position, board members quickly agreed with the nomination.

“She impressed me from the beginning,” Norton said. “She said all the right things and had all the right answers to the questions we asked.”

Selectman Anthony Vegnani said Vinchesi has the leadership skills the board is looking for, and a little more. “She has the financial background to get the town through the next several years,” Vegnani said.

Selectmen said the only concern they had with Vinchesi’s appointment was her commute from Conway. But in public and private interviews, Vinchesi has assured the board she would move to the South Shore, initially staying with family and possibly renting an apartment.