The Board of Selectmen’s annual evaluation of Town Administrator Mark Andrews’ performance included hearty praise, sharp criticism, and a failed effort to immediately begin negotiations to renew his contract.

Andrews, who is entering his third year of a three-year contract, came away from Tuesday’s meeting with a contractually required 3 percent raise to $106,000 annually.

The contract allows an additional 3 percent raise for “exemplary” performance. Selectmen postponed for later discussion and decision whether to grant him any or all of that pay raise.

Also postponed was discussion of when to open negotiations with the town administrator about renewal of his contract, which expires on Dec. 14 of this year.

The last item on Tuesday’s agenda was listed as “executive session – to discuss contract negotiations with non-union personnel.” It became clear during the meeting that Selectmen Ellen Begley and Michael Schneider wanted to use that time to begin discussion of Andrews’ next contract.

Schneider said opening negotiations early would be a good thing, particularly in light of “rumors that Mr. Andrews may be seeking or may have been offered employment elsewhere.”

In commending Andrews’ job performance, Begley said: “Much has been accomplished. Much more remains to be accomplished.”

But the contract-talk effort was put on hold when, as the meeting neared the end of its third hour, Selectman Cara Winslow made a motion to continue past 10 p.m. to finish initial discussion of Andrews’ evaluation and to conduct some routine sewer business – thus eliminating the planned closed-door negotiating session. Her motion carried, but with Begley and Schneider in opposition.

Begley reacted to the vote with a disgusted “Ridiculous!”

Discussion of Andrews’ job performance kicked off with his own “self-evaluation.” He read a long list of accomplishments – ranging from “creating a fiscal recovery plan” and hiring Police Chief Richard Stanley to hosting the “Your Town Administrator” show on WCTV and holding a Town Hall ceremony to recognize the families of servicepeople. In the “needs improvement” category, Andrews said he was working on “time management.”

Selectmen also presented both positive and negative comments, but the balance between the two varied widely.

Schneider said: “I couldn’t find anything he wrote [in the self evaluation] that I disagreed with.” But he also suggested that Andrews stop “over-commending” staff and himself for doing their jobs. “Setting the tax rate on time should not be something we are commending anyone for,” he said, in reference to one of Andrews’ listed accomplishments.

The sharpest words came from Selectmen Steve Holmes. After praising the town administrator for “helping organizations with projects” and for launching programs such as Safe Summer and Wareham Works, he told Andrews it was time “to get focused on the important issues – fiscal issues. I don’t consider Wareham’s fiscal house in order.”

He went on to say that Andrews’ “delays in hiring” key personnel “cost us a lot of money in the long run ... I’m having heartburn with the hiring practices.”

After every selectman had been given an opportunity to weigh in, Chairman Walter Cruz said the board would take further consideration of Andrews’ performance “under advisement.”

The stage for the showdown over contract negotiations was set early. The “citizens participation” portion of Tuesday’s meeting featured a parade of people praising Andrews.

Kate Furler of the Swifts Beach Improvement Association talked about the neighborhood's gratitude for Andrews’ assistance in getting roads repaired and a playground refurbished. She concluded: “I hope you will rehire Mark, because he is terrific.”

Rudy Santos, who organized last September’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony, praised Andrews for being “out there with the people” and being a “kind-hearted soul.”

Onset Bay Association President Eleanor Martin read a letter from former President Mary Lou Payton calling Andrews “uniquely invested in and responsive to” the community and saying Selectmen should “rehire Mark Andrews as our town administrator.” Martin herself urged selectmen to “renew his contract.”

Reacting to the repeated references to rehiring, resident Margaret Ishihara asked the question directly: Was the last agenda item about renewing Andrews’ contract?

She was met with initial silence. Then, both Holmes and Winslow separately responded “I don’t know,” and Schneider stated that the last agenda item “pertains to contracts that are for non-union positions.”