The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to enter into contract negotiations with Interim Town Administrator Derek Sullivan, to hire him as the permanent town administrator.

Selectman Cara Winslow brought the issue to the board, but questions remain as to whether or not the Town Charter will allow the board to hire the Interim Town Administrator without posting the job again.

Sullivan, who serves as the town's financial analyst, was appointed to the interim position in August while the town continued to interview for the permanent position, which was vacated by Mark Andrews in April.

A hiring committee narrowed the applicants down to three finalists, who were interviewed and rejected by the board in September.

Winslow suggested appointing Sullivan to the position with a one-year contract, and hiring a consultant to work with him.

“I think he’s a bright individual and if we provide him with someone seasoned” he would do well in the town administrator position, Winslow said.

Selectmen Chair Steve Holmes pointed out that the board cannot decide whether or not to hire a consultant for Sullivan, and that the choice to do so should be left up to Sullivan.

Noting that he is mindful of Sullivan’s relative inexperience, Selectman Peter Teitelbaum said that nonetheless, “I’ve been impressed with the job he’s done.”

After the board  voted unanimously to enter into negotiations, Holmes said, “Whatever we do from this point on we will do under the advice of counsel,” to avoid running into any legal issues during the negotiating and hiring process.