The Board of Selectmen on Monday voted against hiring any of the three finalists for the town administrator position.

On the agenda was the discussion and possible selection of a candidate, but there was little discussion.

Selectmen Chair Steve Holmes asked Selectmen Ellen Begley and Cara Winslow, who served on the screening committee that narrowed down more than 30 town administrator candidates, to kick off the discussion.

The finalists all interviewed publicly on September 12. Michael Dutton, an attorney and a former Selectman and former town administrator in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Carter Terenzini, current town administrator in Moultonborough, N.H., and Paul Shew, a government consultant and former city manager in Rye, N.Y., were vying for the position.

"I really have nothing to add," said Begley.

Winslow noted that the first question was whether a majority of the board was in favor of hiring any of the finalists. A majority vote is required to appoint a town administrator.

Only Holmes voted in favor of hiring any of the finalists, while Begley and Selectmen Alan Slavin and Peter Teitelbaum voted in the negative. Winslow abstained.

The job will now have to be posted again.

"We need to repost the position," Holmes told the Selectmen. "And if you're not satisfied with the 31 people, maybe we'll get 31 more."

"For stability," Winslow said she'd like to discuss whether the board should hire an interim town administrator who will serve the town for a certain period of time while a full-time administrator is sought.

The Selectmen agreed that they should discuss how to proceed at a later meeting to avoid a violation of the Open Meeting Law, as Monday's agenda only allowed for the discussion and possible selection of one of the finalists.

Town Financial Analyst Derek Sullivan will continue to serve as interim town administrator.

Wareham has been without a permanent town administrator since April, when Mark Andrews resigned to take an interim position in Wenham. Town Accountant John Foster also served as interim administrator for a period of time.

"I think all [the finalists] brought something different to the table," Holmes said after the meeting. "I could have worked with any one of them."