Franklin council to name new city manager Monday night

FRANKLIN — The Franklin City Council plans to share their choice for city manager on Monday night, after more than six months working with an acting manager following the resignation of former manager Judie Milner.

“We had our non-public meetings, and hopefully it will culminate in an announcement on Monday,” Ward 3 Councilor Leigh Webb said in a phone call on Wednesday. “That is the hope and what we are aiming for.”

Webb declined to comment about the details, including the field of candidates that the council chose from.

“I can’t say anything.”

Former Fire Chief Scott Clarenbach was appointed acting city manager after Milner's resignation in March. Milner went on to become the town manager of Meredith.

Clarenbach resigned Sept. 3, and Fire Chief Mike Foss was voted into the position in his place. Foss said Clarenbach's departure was expected, as he was under contract until the end of August, but remained in the position for three extra days to “button things up.”

Foss confirmed the plan is to name the new city manager during Monday’s council meeting.

“The final details are getting worked out, and it should be the final agenda item,” Foss said on Thursday. “It should go through. I don’t anticipate it not. So, things are in pretty good shape.”

A request for comment from Mayor Desiree McLaughlin was not returned. McLaughlin applied for the city manager position.

The city council met on July 16, and Clarenbach said Municipal Resources Incorporated was scheduling two dates of four-hour blocks in August for interviewing candidates. The council agreed to schedule interviews on Aug. 6 and 8.

According to an Aug. 7 report by The Daily Sun, MRI was assisting the city in the application process, and scheduled 10 phone interviews out of the 33 applicants. The hiring committee narrowed down the search to the top four candidates, who were interviewed in a non-public session. The committee then chose two final candidates to be interviewed.

The city manager is in charge of overseeing the operating and capital budgets totaling $21 million, and the salary for the position is up to $160,000.

In a job listing posted by MRI, the job requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field, a master’s degree, and a preferred six years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

At the Aug. 4 meeting, council voted for Ward 1 Councilor Timothy Johnston to lead the interviewing of candidates. Typically, this would be the mayor’s role, but as McLaughlin is a candidate for the job, she recused herself from the hiring process.

During the meeting, Johnston expressed his satisfaction with the pool of candidates, and said, “we’re looking for somebody that is going to help us continue with economic development and see the benefits of Franklin. Pretty much can take charge and direct the city.”

On Aug. 28, the city council met for a workshop, and went into non-public session citing RSA 91-A:3, II(b), which pertains to the hiring of a public employee.

The city charter states a candidate is selected by a two-thirds vote. Once a new manager is chosen, MRI and the council will publicly create a conditional employment offer, contract and perform background checks.

There are 14 items on the agenda for Monday’s meeting. The final one is for the council to consider having the mayor sign the employment contract. The city manager's report follows the approval of minutes.

There are two public hearings scheduled involving the police department’s acceptance of grant funds, $11,000 from the Office of Highway Safety, and $1,500 from the Bureau of Justice and Granite United Way. The council will consider accepting and appropriating the funds.

Also on the agenda is setting a public hearing to appropriate a $30,000 award to the Franklin School District from the Crotched Mountain Foundation.

The council will also consider selling municipal lots on Chance Pond Road to the Lakes Region Snowmobile Club for outdoor recreation, and receive an update from Franklin Parks & Rec volunteers regarding the outdoor skating rink project.

Another item for consideration is supporting the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program capital budget reduction from 5% to 2% annually, and another to discuss the adoption of the part-time human resources job description.

Before considering the manager’s contract signing, the council will vote to approve sending the Soldiers Memorial Hall project to the construction documents phase and discontinuing the Community Development Block Grant as a funding source.

The city council will meet at the Franklin Lodge of Elkins for the workshop meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8. The meeting’s public session can be viewed online at us02web.zoom.us/j/82341587419 or by phone at 312-626-6799. The meeting ID is 823 4158 7419.