Gilford Selectboard creates search committee for new town administrator

GILFORD — The selectboard started the process of replacing Town Administrator Scott Dunn, who is approaching retirement after 18 years, by unanimously voting to create a search committee to find his successor.

“As everyone knows, TA Dunn is going to retire after a number of years of service in August, and we’d like to start the process now to do a search and eventually hire a new TA that can start, and do some overlap with TA Dunn,” Chair Kevin Hayes said Wednesday night.

The overlap work will take place in July and early August, to create a smooth transition in the role long held by Dunn. Dunn is expected to retire “on or about Aug. 14,” and the anticipated start date for the new assistant town administrator will be July 20. On Aug. 16, that employee’s role will become town administrator.

Dunn drafted a resolution to establish a committee, and gave the board a timeline.

The selectboard is accepting letters of interest from anyone volunteering to serve on the committee, which will include one former selectboard member, three year-round residents, one seasonal resident, one department head, and one long-term non-supervisory employee.

The seven-person committee is expected to have a “busy meeting schedule,” with weekly gatherings between mid-March and mid-May.

“It is essential that committee members are able to make a commitment for regular attendance at these meetings,” the advertisement states.

The committee will conduct the initial round of interviews, and will recommend the top three candidates to the selectboard for consideration. The committee will observe the second round of interviews conducted by the selectboard, and will then participate in deliberations for the selectboard to determine their top two candidates to make a conditional employment offer.

Selectboard Clerk Gus Benavides was in total agreement with creating the committee, saying the last time they went through this process, it worked well having a citizen panel of volunteers. The committee will be able to get a “top three or top five,” which can then be considered by the board.

“This gives the citizens the opportunity to have their voices heard,” Benavides said.

Hayes agreed, and said there will also be town employees on the committee. Dunn said his office will spread the word through the town offices to find people who want to be part of the process. Hayes requested having no more than one employee per department.

A notice will be posted on the town website for residents who want to be on the committee, as well.

The selectboard are expected to appoint committee members on Wednesday, March 11, and on Friday, March 20, the committee will hold its first meeting. The job advertisement will be published in the newspaper, on a help wanted job site, and the websites for municipal associations in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts.

The committee will receive applications until Friday, April 10, and on Friday, April 24, six candidates will be selected for interviews. On Friday, May 8, the committee will conduct interviews, and recommend the top three candidates, who will be interviewed by the selectboard on Friday, May 22. An initial conditional offer of employment will be made on Friday, May 29.

The deadline to apply for the search committee is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6. For more information, call 603-527-4790, or email selectmen@gilfordnh.gov.

New stop sign

Sprucewood Drive resident Tim Rice was the lone person to speak about the proposed stop sign at the intersection of Sprucewood and Timber Lane, giving his blessing due to the number of pedestrians in the area.

Rice told the selectboard he lives near the intersection, and lived down the street for years. While he doesn’t expect it will completely stop speeding in the area, he thinks it will add a layer of protection. Rice noted families with toddlers, children on bikes, and people walking with dogs frequently walk the road.

“We certainly applaud this action,” Rice said.

According to paperwork provided by the selectboard, the purpose of the regulation is “to enhance the public safety, in so much as possible,” listing it as being for the safety of cars, school buses, pedestrians, cyclists and others who travel the public roadways. Anyone who fails to stop at the sign will be subject to a fine of $100.

The board unanimously voted to approve designating Sprucewood and Timber a “stop sign intersection.” A temporary sign was expected to be installed on Feb. 26, by public works staff, until a new stop sign is in place.

Pickleball court contract

During Wednesday’s meeting, the selectboard unanimously approved a contract with SealPro Sealcoating & Sports Surfacing of Lake George, New York, for the lining of the pickleball court.

The town was considering two proposals, from SealPro and Vermont Recreational, and SealPro came in with the low bid of $27,500. This includes $21,000 for a base coat, $2,500 for a painted kitchen, and $4,000 for the painted playing court.

The court is located at the Arthur A. Tilton Ice Rink, adjacent to the town beach on Varney Point Road. It is currently being used as a skating rink, and in October, the selectboard accepted a proposal from Sport Court Northeast for $137,786.76, for new sideboards, installed in January.

The pickleball courts will be a new feature, and turn something previously only used during the winter to a facility used year-round. Town leaders previously said the acrylic surfacing and colored lines will be installed in the spring, when it is 55 degrees or warmer during both the day and the night. Dunn said Gilford is No. 36 on the company’s schedule, and did not have an exact installation date.

Half the cost of the line painting is funded through a Land and Water Conservation Grant. Part of the grant stipulations include it be open to the public, including residents of Gilford, and beyond.