Hosmer to start as city manager in Lebanon in September

LEBANON — Andrew Hosmer, mayor of the City of Laconia, is the new city manager in Lebanon. 

Following a brief nonpublic session late Wednesday evening, Lebanon Assistant Mayor Devin Wilkie made a motion to approve the hiring of Hosmer to fill their city manager position at a starting salary of $170,000. 

The vote was unanimous.

“We are very pleased to announce that we will be moving forward with Andrew Hosmer as our city manager,” Mayor Douglas Whittlesey said. 

Councilors in Lebanon were upbeat when making the announcement, which came after about 15 minutes of private discussion. Before they entered the nonpublic session, Whittlesey told a small audience, in person and online, he hoped they’d return with good news regarding a municipal hiring matter. Moments later, they did.

Hosmer said Thursday morning he intends to tender his resignation between now and the end of August — three meetings in Laconia City Council world. Pursuant to his employment agreement with the City of Lebanon, he’s required to establish residency there. He’s expected to begin work in the Grafton County city the first week of September.

“One of those will be my last,” he said, referring to the next three scheduled council meetings.

He and his wife, Donna, are looking forward to a new adventure, and all the challenges that come with it, he said, and expressed appreciation to the Lebanon City Council for their professionalism and support.

“The process was rigorous,” he said.

“I am just really excited to take on a new challenge, professionally,” he said. “I’m excited to get to work.”

Former Lebanon City Manager Shaun Mulholland was hired as town manager in Londonderry, stepping down effective May 31. The city council in Lebanon appointed Jack Wozmak, a senior consultant with Municipal Resources Inc., as their interim city manager. Wozmak previously served as interim town manager in Meredith before that municipality hired former Franklin City Manager Judie Milner — she started there on March 31.

Hosmer, in an interview on June 2, told The Laconia Daily Sun he intended to resign his role as mayor to take the city manager job in Lebanon. His resignation would come before the city council at some point following the municipal budget process — councilors passed the budget Monday night — in late summer or early fall. 

The next day, the City of Lebanon issued a press release stating Hosmer was the finalist in their search for a new city manager, noting the two sides were negotiating the details of a potential employment contract. Once an agreement was reached, the proposed contract would be brought before the city council. That happened Wednesday night. 

Thursday, the City of Lebanon issued another press release, indicating the council approved the execution of a contract between the city and Hosmer the night before. Following contract signatures, the release states, Hosmer will be appointed city manager during their meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

A statement issued by the city notes Hosmer’s extensive experience in municipal and state government, and in the private sector as an attorney and in managing his family’s business, AutoServ.

His selection for the job included a recruitment process conducted by MRI, with community input, essay evaluations and candidate interviews.

“Throughout the process, Andrew demonstrated his extensive knowledge of the complexities of New Hampshire municipal government and the challenges facing cities such as Lebanon,” Whittlesey wrote in a release. “His responses reflected thoughtfulness, a commitment to residents, open communication, and developing community-focused solutions. Andrew also brings an excitement and enthusiasm for the position and the City of Lebanon, which made him the standout candidate.”

In an interview Thursday afternoon, Whittlesey said Hosmer competed against 16 others in an initial round, and was one of three candidates offered interviews. It was his "deep knowledge of New Hampshire state and local politics and government" which sealed the deal.

Hosmer demonstrated a serious understanding of the challenges municipal governments face, Whittlesey said, noting Lebanon and Laconia share some challenges in common — housing and workforce housing, budget constraints in the face of tradeoffs required to maintain quality of life and public services while protecting residents from heightened tax burdens. Working with the state on large projects like the State School property in Laconia (in Lebanon, the Westboro rail yards) is comparable, and Hosmer's responses in both written portions of the hiring process and through interviews were thoughtful.

"There's a clear commitment to putting the residents first," Whittlesey said.

Once Hosmer tenders his official resignation, Laconia city councilors have 30 days to appoint somebody in the interim. Municipal elections in November will decide the next popularly-elected mayor. 

According to the charter, a vacancy in the office of mayor is to be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by a qualified person selected by a majority of councilors. That vote is to occur within 30 days. Councilors could either record the vote at their next regular meeting — that’s scheduled for Monday, July 28 — or at a specially-called meeting.

Hosmer succeeded Edward J. Engler in 2020, having previously served the city as a councilor, and a state senator in District 7, from 2012 to 2016. In a press conference held July 10, Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney announced his bid for mayor.

The municipal election filing period is Aug. 6-15.