Harwich's Eldredge A Finalist For Yarmouth Position

 HARWICH – Assistant Town Administrator Meggan Eldredge is one of three finalists for the community development director’s position in Yarmouth. 

The Yarmouth Select Board was scheduled on Tuesday to interview the three finalists, but a decision is not expected until Aug. 26.

 Eldredge has served as Harwich Assistant Town Administrator since 2021. For a short period this summer, she stepped in as acting town administrator after former town administrator Joesph Power’s contract expired. Eldredge started working in Harwich in 2014 as a senior health director and was named health director in 2018. 

 Eldredge has more than 25 years working in local municipal settings with progressively responsible roles, according to her resume.

“Although Harwich holds personal connections for me, I feel my skills and background would be better utilized through this new opportunity in Yarmouth,” she wrote in her introductory letter to the Yarmouth Select Board

In early July the Harwich Select Board debated whether to appoint Eldredge as the interim town administrator until a new administrator was appointed or make her the acting administrator until the board chose an interim administrator. On July 8 the board voted to make Eldredge acting town administrator.

On July 14 the board agreed to hire Anthony “Tony” Schiavi as interim town administrator. Schiavi, an East Harwich resident, served as town administrator in Bourne for two years and as town manager in Ashland for three years. Schiavi started the Harwich position on Aug. 11.    

  Eldredge filed her application for the Yarmouth position on May 27. There were 20 applicants, and she was one of four candidates interviewed by a screening committee. The Yarmouth select board scheduled interviews with the three finalists on Aug. 19 and agreed to wait until Aug. 26 to make a decision, providing time, should it be necessary, to clarify any outstanding issues. 

 The other two finalists are Ellen Levin Carlson and Spyro Mitrokostas. Carlson worked in planning and development for the National Park Service until the position was lost to federal cuts. She also served as a legislative affairs specialist for the National Park Service. Mitrokostas is a local resident who served on the water resource advisory committee and is currently a licensed insurance agent.

 The position includes conducting short and long-term planning in areas such as economic development, historic preservation, conservation and housing. In her application, Eldredge wrote that her role in Harwich includes overseeing the community development team, which includes planning, health, conservation, building, historic and zoning departments. Eldredge is also the primary contact for all procurement projects in Harwich. The salary range for the Yarmouth position is between $108,000 and $145,000 plus benefits. 

In her application, Eldredge said she would be available to work in Yarmouth 30 days from the date of hiring. She declined to comment further when contacted.