Powers Withdraws As Bellingham Finalist

 HARWICH – In a turn of events, Town Administrator Joseph Powers withdrew as one of the finalists for the Bellingham town administrator’s position before that town’s select board began weighing its decision on Monday night. 

The Bellingham Select Board voted 3-2 to not appoint the remaining candidate, John Coderre, a former town administrator in Northborough. 

 Asked to comment Tuesday, Powers sent the following message: “I do not and will not comment on any topics related to my career outside of Harwich. Thanks for reaching out.”

  Powers was one of four finalists for the Bellingham position. Three withdrew prior to Monday night’s special session, which was called to discuss the town administrator appointment

 “One got a job, and two decided to pursue positions in other towns,” Bellingham Select Board member Don Martinis said.

 It was not clear which of the three finalists got a job and who the other two candidates are seeking positions elsewhere. Powers has also been a finalist for administrator jobs in the towns of Yarmouth and Foxborough over the past three years. 

Two weeks ago, the Bellingham board could not come to a decision on whether to choose Powers or Coderre as the next town administrator. The board decided to have an intensive background investigation into each of the two finalists. 

“We won’t talk about Powers,” Martinis said Monday. “He withdrew his name.”

 Powers is part way through a one-year extension to his 2021 three-year contract. Under the contract, the Harwich Select Board is required to notify Powers whether he will be given a new contract 90 days before the extension expires on June 30. 

 On Dec. 2 the select board went into executive session to conduct contract negotiations with the town administrator. Select Board Chair Julie Kavanagh said on Tuesday that she could not comment on the executive session. She added that she just learned that morning Powers withdrew his name in Bellingham.