Dunn named town administrator

The Board of Selectmen announced yesterday that they have appointed Scott Dunn, who most recently served as town manager in Seabrook, as town administrator. Pending successful completion of a background investigation, Dunn, will take up the position on August 18.

"It was a very difficult decision for us," said Connie Grant, who chairs the board. She said that the Citizens Panel "did an excellent job. They interviewed six candidates, recommended two and had two waiting in the wings." Grant described both the finalists as "very cordial and very professional" and said that Dunn's experience swayed the board unanimously in his favor.

"Both the finalists recommended by the panel were great candidates," said Selectman Kevin Hayes, "but Scott had more experience. I think we made an excellent choice, he remarked, echoing Grant's judgment.

Dunn said that he had tendered his resignation in Seabrook and was actively seeking a position when the post in Gilford opened. "It was not a good fit," he said of tenure in Seabrook.

A native of Southbridge, Massachusetts, Dunn, who is 46, has spent most of the last two decades in municipal government, beginning in 1987 in his hometown where his first professional job after earning his degree in public administration at Nichols College was director of parks and recreation. In 1990 Dunn came to New Hampshire as director of parks and recreation in Plymouth and three years later became town administrator in Alton, a post he held until 2000. Along the way he completed a master's degree in public administration at the University of New Hampshire. He served as town administrator in Stowe, Vermont and town manager in Ogunquit, Maine as well as worked as an independent contractor for Ocean Direct of Hawthorne, California, a processor and packager of seafood, before his appointment in Seabrook.

"From my years in Alton I was familiar with Gilford and thought it would be a good fit," Dunn said. He said that he had no qualms about leaving a manager's position for that of an administrator, noting that the major difference between the two is that a town manager has more authority over municipal personnel, including power to hire and fire.

A resident of Wells, Maine, Dunn said he plans to move to Gilford as soon as possible to dispense with a commute of an hour and a quarter each way. Dunn will be paid $84,500. Hayes said that although the salary was slightly less than Dunn earned in Seabrook, by moving to Gilford he will escape Maine's income tax and experience a net gain.

Dunn's appointment completes a reshuffle that began in March when the selectmen abruptly fired Evans Juris as town administrator. In June, Debra Shackett, who as assistant town administrator and finance director, replaced Juris as interim town administrator, resigned to become County Administrator for Belknap County. With Shackett's departure, Police Chief John Markland became interim town administrator.

Last month, Geoff Ruggles was named finance director, returning to a position he held between 1989 and 2001.