LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Select Board voted 2-1 to appoint Robert Nunes, the former town manager of Middleboro, as Lakeville’s temporary town administrator at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 18.

Nunes, a Taunton resident, will temporarily fill the role of outgoing Lakeville Town Administrator Ari Sky, who resigned from the position to take a role in Watertown earlier this month. 

After his appointment, Nunes called Lakeville a “beautiful town” and said he was excited to remain involved in municipal government even after his retirement.

“I enjoy municipal government,” he said. “I enjoy the challenges and I look forward to this opportunity.

Nunes said that he had previously served both as the Mayor of Taunton and the Town Manager of Middleboro.

“I’m well aware of the duties and responsibilities of a town administrator,” he said.

Nunes added that communication would be an important part of how he approached the town administrator role.

“I’m very accessible [and] I have an open door policy,” he said. “I promise all of you that we will have an open dialogue.”

Nunes will take the role of interim town administrator on Tuesday, Jan. 19, according to the motion voted on by the select board.

Nunes wasn’t the only candidate for interim town administrator. Former Lakeville Select Board Chair Richard LaCamera also interviewed for the position.

Although he was not appointed to the interim position, Day suggested that LaCamera could serve the town in another capacity.

Fabian argued in favor of LaCamera, saying that he has already worked with the staff in Lakeville. “I feel like we really need to provide some consistency,” she said.

Select board members Brian Day and Lorraine Carboni both voted to appoint Nunes. Lia Fabian voted against appointing Nunes.

Carboni noted that LaCamera had already served on the Lakeville select board, and asked LaCamera to describe how he envisioned following instructions the board might give him. “My question is, how do you see yourself taking direction from this board,” Carboni asked. 

Nunes said that he had previously served both as the Mayor of Taunton and the town manager of Middleboro. “I’m well aware of the duties and responsibilities of a town administrator,” he said.

Nunes added that communication would be an important part of how he approached the town administrator role. “I’m very accessible [and] I have an open door policy,” he said. “I promise all of you that we will have an open dialogue.”