Byline: Brian Lee

SOUTHBRIDGE - A former town manager in Northbridge and a resident of Sturbridge are among the three candidates for the town manager's position here, for which interviews are scheduled with the Town Council Monday night at Town Hall.

The finalists are William

Mr. Williams, who worked in Northbridge from 1997 to 2003, has spent the last two years managing the village of Port Chester, N.Y., a waterfront community in Westchester County. According to the 2006 census, its population was 28,300.

Mr. Clark, of Sturbridge, manages Vernon, Conn., which is 15 minutes east of Hartford and has a population of nearly 30,000, according to its Web site.

Mr. Guerino is town manager in Bourne, a Cape Cod community with a five-member Board of Selectmen. Its population, at the time of the 2000 census, was 18,721.

In an interview last night, Mr. Clark said he believes working in Southbridge would be a benefit for the town and for him, since he lives "less than six miles away" in neighboring Sturbridge.

He said his family has used facilities in Southbridge and he knows the community, though not intimately.

Also enticing is the fact that he has 15 years in the Massachusetts retirement system.

"I've been trying to come back into Massachusetts," he said.

Mr. Guerino could not be reached.

Mr. Williams, in an interview last night, said he has worked in New York for five years. He was first the village manager in Mount Kisco, where he lives.

Mr. Williams said his father and mother-in-law died last year and he decided to return to Massachusetts, if possible. He said he would like to be near his son, a resident of Winchester, who recently graduated from college.

He said his New England management experience spanned 12 years.

"I got a good affinity with the Blackstone (area) when I worked in Northbridge," Mr. Williams, 60, said.

On being up to speed with Southbridge, Mr. Williams said, "I am as much as I can. Obviously, I'm prepared for an interview. I've been talking to officials and other people about it. I'm familiar with having lived not too far. I've been there and I've read a lot of newspaper articles."

Mr. Williams also stated he knew about the tenures of former Southbridge Town Managers Clayton R. Carlisle and Michael J. Coughlin.

Mr. Carlisle resigned earlier this year after five years on the job, amid differences with the nine-member Town Council. Mr. Coughlin was terminated.

Asked whether his predecessors' dealings with the council were a concern, Mr. Williams said, "Why would it? Look at the people who have been through Northbridge. I don't know of any job that's easy; otherwise, they wouldn't pay you."

Mr. Williams, who said he left Northbridge on good terms, said he is paid $150,000 a year.

Mr. Carlisle, as well as acting Town Manager John F. Healey, who served five months and whose last day is today, were paid at a rate of $114,757 annually.

"Obviously, I knew it would be less when I return," Mr. Williams said.

Mr. Williams said he was optimistic about his chances. "Obviously, we all feel we're the best, but that's for others to decide."

Town officials said two other candidates backed out of the running this week.