Council's Top Finalist Turns Down North Kingstown Town Manager Job Offer

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI—Town residents almost got a new Town Manager this week, but the person selected by the Town Council turned down the job offer.

Town Council President Kerry McKay said Monday that the candidate, was offered the job after a prior council vote in executive session.

"He has consequently turned down that position," McKay said.

The runner up candidate, also the top pick by members of the council-appointed citizen search committee, was the subject of a vote in executive session as well, McKay said.

Now, McKay said, "we have a motion to go forward with a vote to rescind that vote and that will take place in executive session next Monday."

The council has kept its interviews and deliberations during its search for a new town manager mainly in private meetings in executive session.

Police Chief Thomas Mulligan has been serving the town as Acting Town Manager ever since former Town Manager Michael Embury resigned to take a job in Massachusetts.

After providing a brief explanation about where the council stood on the process, McKay said that "that's as far as we'll go on that conversation unless other council members want to harp in on that."

Town Councilwoman Ellen Waxman then noted that the second pick was in fact the citizens' panel first choice.

There was no further public discussion.

Among the names that have circulated in connection with the Town Manager search were former Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis and North Kingstown School Committee member Sheila McGauvran.