Lebanon hires Hosmer as city manager

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.

Former Lebanon City Manager Shaun Mulholland was hired as town manager in Londonderry, stepping down effective May 31. The Lebanon City Council 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 Sun he intended to resign his role as mayor to take the city manager job in Lebanon. He said his resignation would come before the city council at some point following the municipal budget process. Councilors passed the budget Monday night.

He hasn’t yet resigned, but once he does, Laconia 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, with a vote within 30 days of the vacancy. Councilors could either record the vote at their next regular meeting — scheduled for July 28 — or at a specially-called meeting.

Hosmer succeeded Edward J. Engler in 2020, having previously served as a city councilor, and as 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 filing period for the upcoming municipal election is Aug. 6-15.