Selectmen vote to hire Bouchell
By Caitlyn Kelleher

Paul Bouchell

On Monday, June 11, selectmen voted unanimously to appoint Paul Bouchell as the interim town administrator while Town Administrator Kevin Paicos is deployed with the Army National Guard.

Bouchell was one of the two finalists interviewed for the position, that is expected to last about a year, on Monday, June 4. The board also interviewed Dana Keenan, the interim town administrator in Webster.

Selectman Christopher Gagnon said both candidates had excellent resumes and experience.

"My decision came down to familiarity with the town of Ashburnham," he said.

Selectmen Jonathan Dennehy and Mark Carlisle agreed with Gagnon's assessment. Bouchell has served as the town's interim town administrator twice (both were month long engagements) while Paicos has been assigned to training missions.

Bouchell has also worked on a variety of consulting projects for the town.

"We've worked successfully with Paul for the last month while Kevin was on training," Dennehy said.

The selectmen and Bouchell will have to negotiate a contract but all parties hope to do that as soon as possible. Bouchell is still working for the town under the terms of the contract he served under during Paicos's last training assignment.

In other business:

+ Selectmen voted to sign the contract with the builders for the public safety building. They had previously awarded the contract.