Blandford Select Board Votes 2-1 to Offer Town Administrator Post to Slasek

BLANDFORD — January 2, 2024 — Blandford Select Board votes 2-1 to offer the town administrator position to candidate Michael Slasek. The board made the choice Tuesday after interim Town Administrator Ira presented reference checks on two finalists — Slasek, a former administrator in Sterling, Ludlow, and South Hadley, and attorney Mark Seegers, who served as legal counsel and de facto administrator for the Lanesboro Fire and Water District. Board member Kara scored Slasek higher across eight interview criteria, citing his detailed command of the budget process — "September, October, November, December, like laid out" — and his certification as a procurement officer, while finding Seegers "pretty lost" on procurement questions and prone to tangents. One unnamed board member cast the lone dissenting vote. The board immediately entered executive session to develop a contract and salary offer, with no figures disclosed in open session.