SPENCER – Selectmen this week named Gary Kellaher as the town’s interim Utilities and Facilities Superintendent.
Kellaher will replace William Cundiff who is leaving the post later this month.
Board members Ralph Hicks, Gary Woodbury, Anthony Pepe and John Howard voted unanimously to appoint Kellaher after reviewing his resume. The board’s fifth member, Jared Grigg, was not present at Wednesday (July 5, 2023) night’s meeting.
Kellaher most recently served as interim Town Administrator in Rutland and before that was the Department of Public Works interim Director in West Boylston. He lives in the Fiskdale section of Sturbridge and retired in 2018 after serving as the Director of Highway Operations on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
In Spencer he will manage the Highway Department, Water Department, transfer station, parks and other facilities, serving as a group leader for departments falling under the Utilities and Facilities umbrella.
Kellaher will also be responsible for budgeting, maintaining public records, gathering contracts for snow and ice removal and preparing periodic reports for the Town Administrator and Selectboard.
Selectmen agreed to pay Kellaher $57.50 per hour and he will work 30 hours weekly. In addition, he’ll have use of a town-owned cell phone and will be reimbursed for “reasonable and necessary” expenses, according to his contract.
Town Administrator Jeffrey Bridges said the town will conduct a search to fill the position permanently.
Kellaher’s contract runs through Jan. 10, 2024. His first day at work will be July 10.