PORTSMOUTH — In a 6-1 vote, the Town Council Monday night approved Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr.’s recommendation to hire Lisa Mills of Foster as the town’s new …
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PORTSMOUTH — The Town Council Monday night approved Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr.’s recommendation to hire Lisa Mills of Foster as the town’s new director of finance.
The original vote on Ms. Mills' appointment was 6-1, with council member Paul Kesson opposed. During a budget session on Tuesday, however, council member Elizabeth Pedro announced she had reflected on her decision and wanted to change her vote, making it 5-2.
Ms. Mills will succeed John Menke, who notified the town in February of his intention to resign so he could accept a new position at the U.S. Naval War College.
Ms. Mills has previously served as treasurer and director of human resources for the Town of Foster and as controller for the Town of Johnston. She's also worked for several private companies. She spent most of 2016 as a controller and chief financial officer for J.R. Vinagro Corp., according to an online professional profile.
She holds a Master of Science degree in taxation and has a certified public account (CPA) qualification, Mr. Rainer said. Her CPA license had lapsed, however, and getting it re-certified is a condition of receiving the job, the administrator said. Ms. Mills will begin the job on a six-month probation period, he said.
Mr. Rainer said he received 55 applications for the position. Twelve qualified screened applicants were invited for a first round of interviews and then six were invited for final interviews. Mr. Rainer said a committee made up of himself, Human Resources Director Lisa Higgins, School Finance and Administrator Director Chris DiIuro and Superintendent Ana Riley reviewed the applications and unanimously agreed to recommend Ms. Mills for the job.
Mr. Kesson made it clear he had nothing against Ms. Mills, who was in attendance. Mr. Kesson said he objected because he wasn’t able to review the list of other finalists and their qualifications.
'Against the process'
“We received nothing but Ms. Mills’ résumé,” Mr. Kesson said. “This isn’t a vote against Ms. Mills, the candidate. This is a vote against the process. I will not vote for this because it’s a blind vote.”
Larry Firzmorris of the taxpayer group Portsmouth Concerned Citizens agreed. He said Ms. Mills may indeed be the best candidate, but if the council doesn’t get to view the other résumés, “that decision is taken away from them.”
Council President Keith Hamilton, however, said the process followed the rules set forth under the town charter, and that the only time the council may view the other résumés is when it hires a town administrator.
Council Vice President Kevin Aguilar said the hiring process was proper and that Mr. Rainer’s recommended candidate was vetted by a committee.
“To say this is a blind hire or to insinuate that there may be something else going on, I don’t understand,” Mr. Aguiar said.