January 8, 2010

Board of Selectmen
Town of Sturbridge
308 Main Street
Sturbridge, MA 01566

Dear Selectboard:

As the Clerk of the Town Administrator Search Committee (TASC), I am compelled to provide
information regarding the January 8, 2010 Telegram and Gazette article written by Craig Semon.
My written communication is intended to provide a factual and complete accounting of
proceedings and statements for the Selectboard and residents of Sturbridge. The majority of
members of the Town Administrator Search Committee (TASC) have taken painstaking
measures to ensure the process follows procedures, laws, and policies, and the official record
shows that at all times, all 65 candidates were included in the search process.

Copies of the minutes mentioned in this letter are available at the office of the Sturbridge Town
Clerk. Please see the Telegram and Gazette article attached, which has been pasted in its entirety
on Page 3 of this document. Here is the link to the article:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100108/NEWS/1080406/1101/LOCAL

Paragraph five (5) of the Telegram and Gazette news article states:

“In a ‘Disclosure of Appearance of Conflict of Interest’ dated two days after the three finalists
were voted down [finalists were voted down on 12/7/09; the Disclosure therefore was dated
12/9/09], Mrs. Blanchard said that while her husband had applied for the town administrator
position on October 30, it was clear from the search committee minutes on November 4 that he
was not being considered.”

Please refer to Page 1 of the November 4th TASC executive session minute’s paragraph which
begins “JE makes statement.” If the newspaper quote above regarding the Disclosure is
accurate, Mrs. Blanchard’s Disclosure has taken Mr. James Ehrhard’s statement out of context.
The complete paragraph and final minutes actually includes Mr. Ehrhard’s statement followed by
a statement by TASC member, Linda Cocalis: “LC stated: Every applicant should have equal
opportunity and we should look at them all the same. (JE & GM both remember LC’s
statement.)” [Please note that LC refers to Linda Cocalis; JE refers to James Ehrhard and GM
refers to Greg Morse.]
Town of Sturbridge
January 8, 2010
Page 2

The 11/4 executive session meeting minutes clearly outline the procedure TASC used to review
candidates and select three finalists. The sentence which begins with: “Total Applicants” clearly
states 65 applicants were included, and that sentence is before Mr. Ehrhard’s statement. At the
end of the minutes, the paragraph that begins with “JE statement re: releasing information
about 10 candidates and procedure,” once again it is stated that “from 65 applicants, we have
whittled down to top 10 and are on schedule…”

Therefore, at no time was Mr. Blanchard omitted from consideration and as the January 8, 2010
Telegram and Gazette article correctly states “in a 3/2 vote, the search committee decided only
to re-evaluate the 65 applications it has already received.” Thus, Mr. Blanchard has always
been and continues to be, a candidate for the position of Town Administrator.

While the minutes of November 4th accurately reflect the intentions of Mr. Ehrhard, it is his
statement alone. Also, as reflected in the minutes, at no time was a motion made or a vote taken
regarding Candidate #56.

Sincerely,

Carol Childress
Sturbridge resident
Town of Sturbridge
January 8, 2010
Page 3

BEGIN T&G ARTICLE:

Friday, January 8, 2010

Town administrator saga goes on and on

STURBRIDGE — The saga of the town administrator search continued this week with the chairman of the Board
of Selectmen chastising a fellow board member and the search committee having its first meeting since three of
the five selectmen said they were not willing to support any of the three finalists previously put forward.

On Monday, Board Chairman Mary Blanchard said she found it “demeaning and insulting” that Selectman Thomas
R. Creamer had said that she didn’t support any of the finalists because the name of her husband, Paxton Town
Administrator Charles T. Blanchard, wasn’t on the short list.

Mrs. Blanchard said she has every right to participate in the discussion of town administrator finalists, even though
her husband has applied for the same job.

On Dec. 21, Donald D. Crawford, former city manager of Hamtramck, Mich.; Pamela T. Nolan, Truro town
administrator for five years, and John O. D’Agostino, who was Mansfield town manager for 12 years, were all voted
down by Mrs. Blanchard and Selectmen Edward P. Goodwin and Harold J. White.

In a “Disclosure of Appearance of Conflict of Interest” dated two days after the three finalists were voted down,
Mrs. Blanchard said that while her husband had applied for the town administrator position on Oct. 30, it was clear
from the search committee minutes on Nov. 4 that he was not being considered.

Mrs. Blanchard cited statements in the minutes from Search Committee Chairman James P. Ehrhard: “Applicant #
56’s application should not be considered; he is the spouse of the chair of the selectmen” and “If # 56 is brought
into the mix at all, JE (Mr. Ehrhard) will make a motion to remove him from consideration.” Applicant 56 was Mr.
Blanchard.

Not cited in the disclosure but cited in the minutes, Mr. Ehrhard also said Mr. Blanchard being a finalist would be an
“organic and inherent conflict” because his wife is the chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

“As chairman, you try to keep the process as disciplined and efficient as possible but you have to ensure that the
process does right by the people of Sturbridge,” Mr. Ehrhard said yesterday.

The search committee’s task now is to send selectmen another three finalists, who may include one or all of the
original three finalists.

In a 3-2 vote, the search committee decided only to re-evaluate the 65 applications it has already received. Search
committee members Carol A. Childress and Linda N. Cocalis voted against that. Before that vote, Ms. Childress
made a motion — but it wasn’t seconded — to advertise the position again, in addition to looking at the
applications that the committee already has.

Although Michael J. Racicot was appointed Monday as the temporary town administrator, Mr. Ehrhard said the
committee needs to come up with another trio of finalists quickly.

Mr. Ehrhard said he hopes to have the selection process done by April 1.

At the end of June, James J. Malloy left the town administrator post after 14 years to become Westboro town
manager.

END