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11-12-2025 12:50am
Three Finalists for Westwood's Next Town Administrator Announced by Screening Committee
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Photo by John Phelan from Wikimedia Commons with added graphics/effects by Westwood Minute.
On Thursday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the Jaillet Meeting Room of Westwood’s Police Station, Westwood Select Board will interview three finalists for the position of Westwood’s next Town Administrator, with the goal of selecting its top candidate at the board’s meeting on Sunday, November 16th.
The candidates were selected by a Select Board appointed screening committee, and announced by a consultant having expertise in helping municipalities fill such positions. The three finalists are:
- Brian Golden, a retired Army colonel and former member of the state legislature who has been practicing as an attorney since 2022. He previously served as director of the Boston Planning and Development Agency (formerly Boston Redevelopment Authority) where he oversaw 20 million square feet of agency-owned property with experience in related investments, improvements, and developments;
- Joseph Powers, who this year completed his service as town administrator for the Town of Harwich, after holding positions as assistant town administrator, town clerk/registrar for Harwich, Wellfleet, and Braintree. He has experience with collective bargaining and finance, and helped secure Harwich’s AAA bond rating; and
- Connor Read, who is currently town administrator for Easton, MA. He is described as securing voter approval for $250 million in facilities-related debt exclusions for municipals buildings, helping to grow the town’s cash reserves, and building stakeholder consensus through efforts such as the town’s Citizens Academy.
The town’s consultant, in presenting the three candidates to Select Board, noted that the screening committee focused on priorities gathered from the community, department heads, and Select Board regarding the most important qualities desired in Westwood’s next town administrator. These qualities include the ability to handle facilities projects with the prospect of maintaining, upgrading, or building a fire station and school(s); managing communication with the community as “a real priority;” managing and empowering town staff; financial acumen including navigating Proposition 2-1/2 constraints; and facilitating economic development opportunities.
Between November 13 interviews and the November 16th meeting when the board makes its top choice, each member of the board will have the opportunity to speak with the candidates one-on-one, if desired.
The timeline for interviewing and filling the town administrator position has advanced from what was previously scheduled. In later weeks, Clerk Joe Previtera will be unavailable for this work due to personal reasons, said Chair Robert Gotti.
A novel addition to this job search has included the candidates providing video links of themselves in their applications for the town administrator position. The idea was credited to Mr. Previtera, and gives Select Board members the opportunity to view the candidates in action and observe their style of communication.
