Little Compton narrows field in solicitor search

Solicitor Richard Humphrey has served the town for 33 years

By Jen Campisi
Posted 1/23/23

Members of the Little Compton Town Council voted last Thursday to extend Town Solicitor Richard Humphrey's contract through the end of February, as they work to interview candidates for the position. …

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Little Compton narrows field in solicitor search

Solicitor Richard Humphrey has served the town for 33 years

Posted

Members of the Little Compton Town Council voted last Thursday to extend Town Solicitor Richard Humphrey's contract through the end of February, as they work to interview candidates for the position. Humphrey, who has served as the town's legal counsel for 33 years, is among seven candidates for the post, which by Town Charter expired earlier this month, 60 days after the November election.

“We believe we have narrowed the field, and we need to decide what questions and how to propose them,” Council president Robert Mushen said. “It’s taking longer than we expected.”

The council will reconvene to formalize additional questions for the remaining candidates, and it is anticipated that the council will have come to a conclusion by the end of the extension on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Other vacancies filled

The council last Thursday also reappointed many incumbents to their positions on various town boards and commissions, and filled several vacancies.

• Incumbents Benoit Gauthier and Ian Parente were re-appointed to the Harbor Commission for a three-year term, and newcomer Margaret Manning fulfilled the third open seat, all set to expire February 1, 2026.

• Isabel Mattia and Patrick Bowen were re-instated to their positions on the Housing Trust. They will serve five-year terms.

• Mary Suttell, Robert Torchia and Edward Bowen III, all incumbents, were re-appointed to their positions on the Planning Board, for a four-year term that will expire on February 1, 2027.

• Michelle Stecker and David MacGregor were re-appointed as members of the Recreation Committee for a three-year term through February 1, 2026.

• Jason Burchard remains the town's tree warden, an annually appointed seat that comes up each January, with the term beginning on March 1.

• Council members will soon conduct interviews for two vacancies on the Conservation Commission. Candidates Edward Bowen III and Don McNaughton have applied for the posts.

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