KILLINGTON—The Killington Select Board has decided to hire an interim town manager to ensure a smooth transition. After executive session Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Board unanimously appointed long time director of planning and zoning administrator Dick Horner to the post. They expect him to serve two to five months while the Select Board finds a suitable long-term replacement for outgoing town manager Seth Webb.
“The Board wants to ensure the transition to a new manager is as smooth as possible,” Select Board Chair Patty McGrath said. “Seth will stay until end of year and work with the Board on the 2017 budget,” she explained.
Horner has over 25 years of experience working for the town of Killington. He has also served as a select board member of his hometown, Proctor, for 12 years, during which he was select board chair for seven years.
“Dick knows the town, the people and the issues, and the Board is confident he will help ensure a smooth transition during this interim period,” said McGrath.
Horner will officially begin as interim town manager on Dec. 1, and will work alongside Seth Webb during the month of December. During the interim period, Horner will also continue to fill his current responsibilities as director of planning and zoning and zoning administrator. He will receive an additional $1,100 per pay period (paid bi-weekly) in addition to his current salary of $60,173 during this interim period, the Board announced.
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT), which has 30 years of experience hiring town managers, will be assisting the Killington Select Board in its search to fill Webb’s position. VLCT will be acting as “back office staff” to the town to post ads, review and rank candidate resumes, schedule interviews, and coordinate meetings. The job description was posted on the town website last week and advertising will begin immediately.
“The Board also wants to make sure citizens and key stakeholders in town have input into the process, so that the Board may take their concerns into consideration when selecting a new manager,” McGrath said.
The Board will host a special meeting with senior staff from the municipality on Oct. 27 at 4:30 p.m. to get their input on what’s important to them in a new manager. This will be a public meeting that is designed to facilitate a conversation between the Board and staff on this topic.
The Board will host a second special meeting with elected officials and appointed officials (members of boards, commissions and other statutorily appointed posts) on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. to facilitate a similar conversation.
The Board will also establish a citizen search committee to review candidate resumes and serve in an advisory capacity to the Select Board. This committee will be advisory only; the Board and current town manager Seth Webb will participate in the committee meetings. The citizens appointed in the candidate search will not participate in candidate interviews and final selection.
To initiate this committee, the Board made a motion last night to issue a call for interest on this advisory committee, asking interested parties to submit their names and letters of interest via email to sethwebb@killingtontown.com. Letters of interest are due on Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. The Board will appoint the committee on Nov. 11. The Board expects to start interviewing candidates in the first week of December.
