By Gayla Cawley
SWAMPSCOTT — Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta will be filling in during the search for a permanent town administrator.
Cresta was named the interim town administrator at the Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday. He has worked for the town for more than 13 years.
“I’m both humbled and honored that I was chosen,” Cresta said. “I took it as one of the highest compliments that I was even under consideration.”
Town Administrator Thomas Younger accepted the same position in Stoneham last month. His last day in Swampscott falls in mid-October, with Cresta stepping up after his departure.
Naomi Dreeben, board chairwoman, said Town Accountant David Castellarin, who also serves as assistant town administrator, will exercise leadership on the budget during the interim tenure.
Selectman Peter Spellios said Cresta has dabbled in many of the ongoing initiatives and projects in town, which includes the appropriate disposal of vacant town buildings, as part of his position as DPW director. He said Cresta has defined his role as something well beyond what a DPW director is in many communities.
“In Gino, specifically, we have someone who has demonstrated a work ethic and a commitment to this town that is tremendous,” he said.
Cresta said he looks forward to continuing the process going forward with the ongoing town projects and working with the selectmen. He will continue his work on projects such as the implementation of artificial turf at Blocksidge Field and the Humphrey Street redesign.
The board also unanimously approved the drafted job description and posting for the town administrator position. The job will be posted within the week and applications will be due three weeks from then. Appointments to the screening committee, which will be selecting the finalists for the position, will be finalized by the end of the month. By Nov. 2, the screening committee is expected to inform the selectmen of their top candidates. Two weeks later, the board will vote on a town administrator, with a start date expected in mid-January.
Discussion and a possible vote on an interim harbormaster was also listed on the agenda for the board meeting, but was not mentioned. Dreeben said in a phone interview earlier on Tuesday that a candidate has not been decided on.
Harbormaster Lawrence Bithell has been placed on leave and Younger has told selectmen that he will not recommend Bithell’s reappointment.
Bithell’s attorney, Neil Rossman, said previously that his client is scheduled to appear at a Sept. 19 clerk magistrate’s hearing to determine if criminal charges should be filed for use of an expired license plate. He said the complaint is regarding a boat trailer.
Assistant Harbormaster Mounzer Aylouche has already turned down the interim position, citing time constraints.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.