I am so relieved (of my tax money) that the town of Amherst is yet again hiring a search firm, the latest one to aid the hunt for a housing chief.
Were it not for the business – i.e., the money – the town and UMass spends on them, many, if not most, would not survive!
Why is there such an undeserved cachet about search firms? There is little evidence they could do more, better, than drawing on the expertise available at our educational institutions and the collective wisdom of the residents.
It is said that “An expert is just somebody from out of town, with slides.” And, “Experts often possess more data than judgment.” Our tax money should be spent more wisely.
Robert N. Brooks
Amherst