As longtime managers retire, towns seek next generation of leaders South Hadley Town Hall GAZETTE FILE PHOTO Published: 6/1/2021 12:56:58 PM In April, the South Hadley Select Board had to quickly regroup. As officials prepared to conduct final interviews in the search for the community’s next town administrator, three of the four selected finalists withdrew their candidacy, abruptly derailing a process more than a year in the making. And the town, facing the looming June 30 retirement of its current administrator, had no choice but to relaunch the search. Though the situation might seem unique, other small Massachusetts communities have also struggled to hire top executives in recent years, whether because of too few qualified applicants or finalists who opt for more attractive positions elsewhere.