Mansfield offers top job to Dedham's William Keegan

After a marathon interview session of three finalists vying for the vacant town manager post, the Mansfield board of selectmen offered the position last night to Dedham Town Administrator William G. Keegan, Jr.

 A rare unanimous vote by the board yesterday, cemented the decision to offer Keegan Mansfield’s top post.

During his interview, Keegan described himself as a very “team-orientated” and “collaborative” manager, mentioning his willingness to work together with people from “all walks of life” to get the job done.

“I welcome new ideas all the time. It’s the thinking of a lot of people I find that usually gets you the best solution,” said Keegan.

When asked by selectman Jess Aptowitz how he would spend his first six months on the job if he were appointed town manager, Keegan said he would get to know the selectmen and other town officials to find out where the community’s concerns and interests lay.

“It’s so important that the manager in the community is a person that has to be available to talk to people about what’s important to them,” said Keegan. “I can’t be effective if people don’t know who I am.”

 He also cited an open-door policy as a central part of his management approach, a policy that seemed to please board members.

While the members of the board agreed that all three candidates had shown they were qualified for the position, the board made it clear that Keegan was their top choice.

“His resume was very impressive. He backed up his written responses and presented very well,” selectman Kevin Moran said. “Mr. Keegan is an in-state candidate that can hit the road running immediately.”

Keegan mentioned one of the reasons for his wanting to come to Mansfield was because he saw so many similarities between the two towns, mentioning the similarities in population size, residency base demographic, and location, in terms of Mansfield being situated at the junction of I-495 and I-95.

Mansfield’s reputation as a community-based and family-orientated town was another reason for Keegan wanting the Mansfield post.

In response to Chairwoman Ann Baldwin’s question regarding the biggest challenge facing Mansfield, Keegan told board members he thinks it is the economy.

“There’s no question about it. We’re going to be challenged over the next few years, but we just need to look at new ways to address issues,” said Keegan.

Keegan said he would like to be a little more aggressive in developing jobs in the biotech industry to help bring new businesses to the town’s industrial park.

 “I think there is an extraordinary opportunity here to take Mansfield to the next level,” said Keegan.

Despite having no experience managing a town light department, Keegan said he would be willing to pursue the managing role of the Mansfield Municipal Electric Department, something that previous town managers have assumed responsibility over.

Keegan has served as Dedham town administrator since 2002. Prior to his appointment in Dedham, he served five years as Seekonk town administrator, where he currently resides.

His career also includes five years as director of human resources and labor relations in Hollywood, Fla., four years as assistant executive secretary in Wayland, four years as assistant to the town manager in his native Shrewsbury, and one year as town planner in Millbury.

He graduated from Westfield State College in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He received a master’s degree in regional planning from UMass-Amherst in 1985.

In addition to Keegan, selectmen conducted interviews Wednesday night with former Jackson, Michigan city manager William Ross, as well as former Brockton mayor and current Brockton Rox President, Jack Yunits.

The town expects to begin contract negotiations with Keegan by early next week, as three, closed-door executive sessions have been tentatively scheduled by the board.

Pending approval of contract requirements and Keegan’s acceptance of the position, Mansfield could expect to have a new town manager before the end of the year.

Keegan would replace former town manager John D’Agostino, who served from 1997-2009. Selectmen voted not to renew his contract in November 2008, and the board later reached a settlement with D’Agostino, who left his post June 30.