The City Council appointed former councilor Dennis Farias to the position of city clerk Thursday night, with the body voting nine-to-two to accept Farias over Assistant Carver Town Clerk Elizabeth Nichols. Mayor Jon Mitchell last month had expressed concerns on his afternoon radio show that the hiring process was not as open as it could be. Mitchell's comments prompted At-Large councilor Linda Morad to deliver to a stern rebuke to the mayor Thursday in which she said he had appointed several officials, including Wind Energy Center Director Matt Morrissey, without a public search ...

Reached by phone last night, Mitchell responded that in some cases, he had appointed or promoted qualified people from within organizations, but that some members of the public were concerned that the city clerk hiring process was favoring "certain candidates" when applications were first collected.

Farias currently serves as the city council's clerk of committees. His new position will pay $79,000. Ward 1 Councilor James Oliveira and Ward 4 Councilor Dana Rebeiro cast the two votes for Nichols.

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