SOUTH HADLEY — The South Hadley Electric Light Department is one step closer to hiring a new manager.

The municipal utility’s board of commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to enter into contract negotiations with Sean Fitzgerald. He will succeed former SHELD manager Wayne Doerpholz whose contract was not renewed when it expired in May.

Fitzgerald is the key accounts and customer service manager for Westfield Gas and Electric, where he also manages the utility’s marketing for fiber optics.

The board interviewed Fitzgerald in open session on Nov. 30. Asked by commissioner Kurt Schenker about his career goals, Fitzgerald said he was eager to grow and unafraid of challenge.

“I see SHELD as a tremendous opportunity to be a general manager in a position of more responsibility, dealing with a board directly and being responsible for day-to-day operations,” Fitzgerald said. “I think it’s also an opportunity to shine. This is a gem you have here.

“There is so much potential here, especially with fiber optics here in South Hadley. I’m excited about it and that’s the reason I’m here,” he added. 

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board spoke highly of Fitzgerald and his qualifications.

“I was very pleased with the interview. I believe we have a very, very solid candidate, who brings good experience on the business side,” commissioner John Hine said.

Commissioner Greg Dubreuil said it was great to see Fitzgerald’s energy and excitement as well as his diverse background.

Before coming to Westfield Gas and Electric, Fitzgerald told the board he worked for The Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company and ISO New England.

At the Nov. 30 meeting, Fitzgerald told the board he has a background in business with a focus on marketing.

“What I do have is 15 years of experience in the wholesale power market side of the business and in retail municipal distribution utility,” he said. “While I haven’t worked on electrical engineering disciplines, I have worked in organizations that are very electrical engineering focused.”

He continued, “I feel confident that the wholesale power side of the business — which is 80 percent of your budget — is the most important thing to make sure that you have experience in, so that financially you keep your utility financially stable.”

Fitzgerald also spoke about  SHELD’s potential for fiber optics, saying the town was well positioned. He called the transition into fiber optics a logical step that could help balance a utility that is experience a downward turn.

SHELD has been without a general manager for over a year.

Doerpholz was placed on paid administrative leave in fall 2015 after being named in a federal whistleblower lawsuit against the utility alleging that he permitted a pattern of workplace bullying and retaliation to persist, thereby creating an unsafe work environment.

Following Wednesday’s vote, two members of the board were charged with drafting a contract that would come back to the full board for discussion.

No specific timeline was given at the meeting, though chairwoman Anne Awad said she would like it done as soon as possible.

The board is expected to meet again this month.