Members of a search committee recommended three finalists on Tuesday for the role of Tisbury town administrator, a position left vacant since John Bugbee stepped down in October after nine years on the job.

The candidates, chosen from an original pool of 38 applicants, are Peter Graczykowski, city manager in East Providence, R.I.; John W. Grande, planning board director for the city of Framingham; and Sally Rizzo, project manager at the Massachusetts State Retirement Board.

“We had a substantial number of very good candidates that submitted applications for this position,” search committee chairman George Balco told the selectmen at their meeting Tuesday. “We finally narrowed it down to the three people we have submitted there to you. It was a long process. I think the people are all highly qualified and I certainly hope that you agree,” he said.

The selectmen will interview the three candidates on Feb. 2 beginning at 1 p.m. in the Vineyard Haven Library. The interviews are open to the public.

Peter Graczykowski has been city manger in East Providence, R.I., since September 2011. He also serves on the East Providence budget commission. In his cover letter to the selectman, Mr. Graczykowski cited his experience with accounting and budget work, including managing a multimillion dollar budget. His prior jobs include work as assistant town administrator and human resources director in Vernon, Conn. and as administrative services director for the department of public works and project manager for the division of finance in Springfield. He also spent 12 years working for the Electric Light Department in Chicopee. He has an undergraduate degree from Westfield State University, an MBA from Western New England University and a law degree from Western New England School of Law. He said he is in the process of buying a home on the Vineyard.

John W. Grande has been the Framingham planning board director, an elected position, for 15 years. In his cover letter he cites his experience in town planning, including in Gloucester, Gorham, Wareham and Harwich. He has an undergraduate degree from Villanova University and a master’s degree from West Virginia University.

Sally Rizzo lives in Newton and has worked for the state retirement board for the past four years. Prior to that she was statewide director for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, and before that director of operations for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She served on the Newton school committee for eight years. In her cover letter she cites her experience working with town budgets, school capital projects and union negotiations. She also has experience in grant writing, procurement strategies, supervising contractors and overseeing multimillion dollar budgets. She has an undergraduate degree from Long Island University, a master’s degree from Antioch University and has completed a certification program for women in government and public policy at Boston College. Ms. Rizzo owns a home in Vineyard Haven.

Speaking after the meeting Tuesday, Mr. Balco said that all three candidates have Island ties. The town administrator will be required to live on Island, he said.

Mr. Bugbee, the previous town administrator, split his time between Fall River, Sandwich and Vineyard Haven.

The search committee was appointed by the selectmen in October. In addition to Mr. Balco, who also serves as the town’s port council representative to the Steamship Authority, the committee includes Rob Doyle, finance committee member; Michael Loberg, board of health chairman; Timothy McLean, town treasurer, and Hillary Conklin, secretary to the selectmen.