The town of Hamilton has taken another step in the right direction with the appointment of its first town manager.
Michael Lombardo comes with some scars from his previous job as chief executive of the much larger community of Iowa City, Iowa. But selectmen were unanimous in their opinion that he was by far the most qualified of the three finalists, and were convinced his firing in Iowa City after just 11 months on the job was more a matter of stylistic differences with the city council than anything else.
There will be a learning curve for both Lombardo and the incumbent selectmen. The former is coming from a Midwestern city that has eight times the population of Hamilton when the University of Iowa is in session; meanwhile board members have been accustomed to serving as the town's de-facto executive, which will no longer be the case.
In a recent interview with this newspaper's editorial board, chairman David Carey said he is looking forward to ceding management responsibilities to the new administrator. But that might not be so easy in all circumstances.
Be that as it may, the town has been through a difficult period what with a police department scandal still pending before several courts and the continuing debate over school funding. Selectmen commented last week they would like to see Lombardo spearhead efforts to expand the town's commercial tax base, but that, too, could prove difficult in a community that prides itself on its rural character.
Residents of Hamilton have taken a leap of faith in voting to hire a town manager and expand its board of selectmen from three to five members. We'd urge them to exercise patience with both Lombardo and the expanded board.
The town's new police chief, Russell Stevens, is receiving good reviews. We hope Lombardo and whoever is chosen to replace departing Hamilton-Wenham schools Superintendent Marinel McGrath (recently hired for the same job in Andover) will have similar success.
Meanwhile, it's important that thanks be extended to town administrator Candace Wheeler for her three decades of very capable service. Hers was a difficult position being the full-time eyes and ears of the selectmen at Town Hall without having any real authority over the various town agencies.
That will change with a town manager, and we have confidence this change will be good for Hamilton.
