BY MATT HERSH

Salem is ready to hire its next town manager, but it’ll have to wait until he returns from Iraq.

At their Monday, June 25, meeting, selectmen announced that they have offered the job to Jonathan Sistare after months of searching and interviewing.

Selectmen said Sistare has received and accepted a conditional offer for the position. He is set to begin working for the town on Oct. 1 after he returns from a tour of duty in Iraq.

Sistare is the current town manager in Jaffrey and is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Current Town Manager Henry LaBranche said the job offer is still dependent on a background check and contract negotiations, but he hopes to have the process completed within a month.

Sistare was chosen over Salem Community Development Director William Scott, Pelham Town Administrator Thomas Gaydos and Deputy Federal Security Director William Ross.

The selection process took a committee of town employees several months as they narrowed down a pool of candidates to the final four earlier this month. Selectmen interviewed each of the finalists before making their choice.

LaBranche is set to retire in December but said he wants to have Sistare in place beforehand so he can assist the new manager with the town budget process.

Sistare is set to return from Iraq at the end of September. LaBranche said that he and selectmen aren’t too worried that their new manager will be called back to serve again.

“Anything is possible,” LaBranche said. “It doesn’t appear (his unit) is going to be on the extended list.”

LaBranche said he believes Sistare will bring continued stability to the town manager position and is confident he will stay for a long time.

Though some selectmen said they didn’t know if they could comment about why they chose Sistare because the minutes of their nonpublic sessions are still sealed, LaBranche said the board was impressed by his qualifications.

“I think he was attractive to the board because of the experience factor,” he said. “He has a strong commitment for this to be the career and job he’s looking for.”

Sistare holds a law degree and a master’s degree in public administration. He has more than 18 years of experience in municipal work.

He has been the town manager in Jaffrey since 1993. Prior to that, he held the same position in Hopkinton.

Sistare could earn as much as $125,000 per year, but his salary will be decided during contract negotiations.