2nd forum about Meredith town government structure slated for Monday night

MEREDITH — In preparation for a potential warrant article to change the town government structure, the selectboard is holding a second public forum to discuss the differences between a town manager and administrator.

Voters at the 2026 Town Meeting were in favor of changing to a town administrator, stemming from a petitioned article brought forward by Mike Faller. Faller is the recently retired public works director who has been outspoken about the desire for change.

Faller thinks the town manager role gives less power to the selectboard and department heads. The manager is in charge of hiring and firing, and the job is protected by state statute. He said this gives the town manager “free reign.”

While the petition was advisory only due to a technicality with wording, it is expected to be on the warrant in March. The selectboard held one meeting already on the topic in May. After the one next week, there will likely be another before Town Meeting, so it is fresh in voters’ heads.

The town voted 88-51 on the petitioned article, at the end of a five-hour-long meeting.

The last forum, on May 18, attracted about 30 people, and included a presentation by former Town Manager Judie Milner, followed by a discussion.

Milner was fired by the selectboard in a non-public session at the beginning of the month. Chair Steve Aiken cited “differences in management style.” Police Chief Michael Harper started as interim town manager on Oct. 5.

When Faller put together the petition, he told The Daily Sun it was not solely because of Milner. He said there had been a series of issues over his 28 years leading the public works department.

“What I had seen over the years was that we, as department heads, were somewhat stifled, and held back, on certain things,” Faller said May 18. “We had to fight for our budgets. We got some of the budgets. And right after Town Meeting, I was told, ‘We’re going to hold $100,000 out of your paving budget.’ Which to me, wasn’t fair to the taxpayers.”

Faller said the selectboard didn’t know about it, though it was something he dealt with for decades. He said he had ideas which would have saved the town millions of dollars over the years, and were ignored.

Faller said he thought the selectboard was in “reactive mode,” as there were often last-minute changes. This was apparent at a recent meeting, where selectboard members said they read about Milner’s proposed changes to the personnel policy in the newspaper.

Faller said, on May 18, managers didn’t always communicate with the selectboard. He also said he was told by some managers he would be reprimanded if he brought certain ideas to the board, including involving the new public works building.

During the last meeting, resident Mark Billings asked, “why now?”

Faller said there are plenty of communities in the Lakes Region with a town administrator and there haven’t been any problems.

“It works,” Faller said in May. “It opens up the transparency between department heads, the administrator, and the selectboard. It really gets a discussion going, and people can express their concerns, whether it is good or bad.”

Library Trustee Rhetta Colon said there was a communication breakdown at times. She also said she wasn’t sure if that was due to the structure, or personalities. She wondered if changing the form would put too much on the selectboard members’ plates.

Bob Manley, a resident and owner of Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery, spoke out against the change at the May 18 meeting, as well as at Town Meeting. He said it puts the responsibility of day-to-day management on the selectboard, and due to the town’s size and complexity, it might not be practical.

Selectboard member Jeanie Forrester recently accepted the role of town administrator for New Hampton, and has served that role in three other Lakes Region communities. She declined in past meetings to give her preference, but detailed the differences between the two roles.

Just after the petition was introduced, on Feb. 22, she said the significant difference is the manager is a statutory position with complete hiring and firing authority. She said it can cause issues in some communities, but other times it can be smooth.

During the same meeting, Aiken and board member Mike Pelczar spoke out against the change. Pelczar, chair at the time, envisioned it adding more work for the board, saying Meredith had become large enough. He thought the current manager role was appropriate.

“I personally don’t support the change,” Pelczar said in February.

Faller isn't the only former department head to speak out. Vint Choiniere, former parks and recreation director, on May 18, said he worked for 37 selectboard members, nine managers, and two administrators over his 41 years in three communities.

His concern was residents, board, and staff all fall under the manager in the current form. He said everyone is at the mercy of the leadership style of the manager in place.

He said he had similar instances as Faller, and was formally reprimanded for speaking out. Choiniere did not specify the situation.

Faller’s petition was signed by 31 voters. He gave interviews, wrote a letter to the editor, and addressed the public about voting in favor of the change.

The public forum will take place at 4:30 p.m., on Monday, Oct. 19, at Meredith Community Center.