HUBBARDSTON — At the Hubbardston Select Board meeting on Dec. 22, 2025, the board formally amended Town Administrator Nathan Boudreau’s employment contract, setting his final day for the day after Christmas, and initiating a three-part leadership transition intended to maintain continuity in town operations.
“The board was successfully able to negotiate an amendment to the employment contract with the current town administrator,” Select Board member Heather Munroe said. “The end of the contract now becomes Friday, December 26.”
With Boudreau’s departure imminent, the board outlined plans to appoint a temporary town administrator, post for an interim administrator, and establish a search committee to recruit a permanent replacement.
“We’re at the point where we need to have someone temporarily in charge,” Munroe said, explaining that an interim administrator is typically someone with municipal management experience who can stabilize operations and guide the board during a short transition. “They try to help resolve any outstanding issues, help guide the board on what they need to do, make sure nothing falls through the cracks, and keep things moving,” Munroe said.
Munroe added that in her experience, many interims are happy to do the work and enjoy it, but do not want to serve for more than three to six months, preferring shorter stints. After stating this, several board members nodded in agreement.
The board voted to immediately post the interim town administrator position, with applications due by noon on Dec. 29, an anticipated start date as soon as Jan. 2, a projected term of three to six months, and an estimated workload of approximately 20 hours per week, with compensation negotiable.
The board also approved the appointment of Patricia Lowe, who recently resigned as the town’s executive assistant, as temporary town administrator through its next meeting on Dec. 29, 2025, with a $250 weekly stipend.
The leadership change follows a period of notable turnover in Hubbardston town government. Gardner Magazine reported that at least six town employees have resigned in recent months, and Boudreau has been on administrative leave. The Gardner News reported that the select board unanimously accepted the resignations of four employees at its Nov. 17 meeting: Building Commissioner/Inspector David Horne, effective Nov. 26; Department of Public Works laborer Brendan McDonald, effective Nov. 14; Treasurer/Collector Mary Leroux, effective Dec. 4; and Executive Assistant Patricia Lowe, effective Dec. 11. Neither outlet reported specific reasons for the departures, and town officials have not publicly disclosed why the town administrator was placed on paid administrative leave earlier in December.
During the Dec. 22 meeting, the board also voted to establish a town administrator search committee of at least seven members, including town employees, finance and planning representatives, and residents at large, tasking the group with recruiting, screening, and recommending finalists to the select board.
During the Dec. 22 meeting, the board also voted to establish a town administrator search committee of at least seven members, including town employees, finance and planning representatives, and residents at large, tasking the group with recruiting, screening, and recommending qualified candidates to the select board.
“The committee shall be responsible for the following duties: develop and finalize job posting and recruitment strategy for the town administrator position; advertise the position and solicit applications; receive, review, and evaluate all applications submitted by the deadline; conduct interviews of selected candidates as determined by the committee; verify references and qualifications as appropriate; and present a list of recommended finalist candidates along with relevant feedback to the select board for consideration,” Munroe said during the meeting.
Applications to serve on the search committee are due Jan. 13.
The select board will review the committee’s recommendations, conduct its own deliberations, and retain full authority over the final hiring decision, including compensation and contract negotiations for the next town administrator.
The select board is scheduled to revisit the temporary appointment and next steps at its Dec. 29 meeting.
