Sudbury Select Board hires Community Paradigm for town manager search

SUDBURY — August 3, 2022 — Sudbury Select Board picks Community Paradigm Associates for town manager search on a 3-2 vote. The board chose the firm over MRI Inc. after both finalists tied at 89 points on the interview rubric, with price and Massachusetts reach as tiebreakers. Community Paradigm bid $13,300; MRI bid $17,800 plus $1,200 to $1,500 in advertising and additional expenses. Members Janie Dretler, Lisa Kouchakdjian and Jen Roberts backed Community Paradigm, citing recent searches in Acton, Lexington, Brookline and Arlington. Daniel Carty and Charles Russo dissented, with Carty calling the firm "too transactional" and noting that in the prior search the screening committee advanced only two finalists — both walk-in applicants. Kouchakdjian said going with MRI would force the board to "educate" the firm about Sudbury today. A second 3-2 vote authorized the interim town manager to sign the contract.