A hiring subcommittee of the Oak Bluffs select board Monday recommended Donovan McElligatt, former Mashpee shellfish warden, for the position of Oak Bluffs shellfish constable following interviews of two finalists. A discussion of the recommendation is slated for a meeting of the full select board Tuesday.
Shellfish constable is the top job in the Oak Bluffs shellfish department, enforcing shellfishing regulations, working with town boards and generally overseeing shellfish propagation in town.
A subcommittee of town administrator Deborah Potter and select board members Jason Balboni and Brian Packish met Monday afternoon to interview shellfish constable finalists Christopher Edwards and Mr. McElligatt. Oak Bluffs shellfish committee members Dan Martino and Mark Landers are also members of the subcommittee, but neither attended the meeting.
Mr. McElligatt has been the Mashpee shellfish warden for three years, rising to the position through roles in commercial fishing in Alaska, and with the Aquaculture Resource Corporation in Dennis.
During his interview, Mr. McElligatt leaned on his experience working on the water, managing a staff and focusing on his degree in criminology. He said he was able to have his experience in law enforcement and shellfishing mesh in Mashpee, and expressed excitement for moving to the Island.
“[Oak Bluffs is] a place I can really see myself both growing and embedding myself,” he said.
He also listed experience in grant writing, budgeting, community outreach, rule enforcement and education from his time in the Mashpee shellfish department.
“It’s kind of a dual role of a department head as well as [overseeing] the shellfish department,” he said, describing his view of the position.
Mr. Edwards, an Island native, is the hatchery and facility manager at the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group. During his interview, the finalist focused primarily on his experience in propagation on the Island and his passion for the work.
“I am more hands-on with the shellfish,” he told the subcommittee. “My expertise is making sure that equipment is functioning.”
Mr. Edwards has been with the Shellfish Group since he was a college intern in 2009. He said he felt it was time for him to move up in the Island’s shellfishing sector.
“I think they’re kind of like an educator as well,” he said, describing his view of the position. “They need to not only enforce, but educate.”
In deliberations following the interviews, members of the subcommittee lauded Mr. Edwards for his clear passion for shellfishing and propagation, but recommended Mr. McElligatt for the role based on the breadth of his experience.
“We’ve got experience in a lot of areas, and we’ve got experience in very few areas,” Mr. Balboni said. “I just think [Mr. Edwards] really needs management experience,” he added.
The committee voted unanimously to recommend Mr. McElligatt. Ms. Potter said she would like to express gratitude and the possibility of future openings to Mr. Edwards following the hiring process based on his interview.
“He’s the person that you want working for you because he cares,” Mr. Balboni said.
