Foxmyn will serve as town administrator until a permanent replacement is found to replace Bernie Kubiak, who plans to retire at the end of June.
DEERFIELD — Deerfield Selectmen have unanimously selected Wendy L. Foxmyn, 58, to serve as interim town administrator until a permanent replacement is found to replace Bernie Kubiak, who plans to retire at the end of June.
Foxmyn, who resides in the Leeds section of Northampton, was chosen because of her people skills and wide-ranging administrative experience, Selectman Carolyn Ness said in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
Foxmyn’s expertise with administrator searches was also a factor in the board’s decision.
The search to replace Kubiak is expected to take six months to a year. Foxmyn’s salary will be the same as Kubiak’s, $70,262 annual salary.
“We wanted to have someone capable; we interviewed her and are really impressed. It was a match of her professional qualities and her personal qualities,” said Ness, who has been a selectman the past 10 years.
“Having a town administrator with the right personality and the right skills is important,” she said.
Foxmyn is expected to begin work in mid- to late-June, with a one- or two-week transition period.
Previously, she was interim town administrator in Northfield and Leverett and was assistant town administrator in Wilbraham. In March 2012, she took a position as manager of regional services at Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and will resign on May 3.
Foxmyn runs a consulting firm specializing in municipal governance and mediation. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, and is a violinist with the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra.
In a related matter, Deerfield selectman Elizabeth N. Clarke resigned following the annual town meeting on Monday. To date, selectmen have not scheduled a special election to fill the seat. She announced her decision to step down on April 18 – after the deadline to submit nomination papers had passed. The annual election was Tuesday.
Also, Deerfield Town Meeting approved a fiscal 2014 budget of $13,229,907, a 4.5 percent increase from current spending totaling $12,665,787, Ness said.