New Gilford town administrator is familiar face, as police chief moves up

GILFORD — The selectboard interviewed 16 potential candidates for the town administrator position, but it turned out the most suitable person was already working in the building, at the adjacent police department.

Kristian Kelley, police chief since 2022, will take on the role of town administrator following the retirement of Scott Dunn in August.

Kelley worked his way up from patrol through his 27 years with Gilford Police, and the stars aligned as he pondered the next stage of his career. With Dunn retiring, he decided to take a shot at a new leadership role in the town he knows and loves.

“I look at it like this: I’ve had 27 years serving the community in this capacity, and now I’m going to focus on the overall success of the town,” Kelley said in an interview Thursday.

Kelley said continuity is something to be valued in town leadership, and thinks his understanding of how the town works will be an advantage. He plans to use his strengths — working alongside other department heads, and knowing most residents in town, to be successful in the new role.

Dunn had the top job at Town Hall for the past 18 years, and following an announcement in February about his retirement, a search committee was created to find a viable successor. The seven-person committee — made up of residents, employees and town leaders — met from March through May 20, when the decision was made.

The committee conducted an initial round of interviews, narrowing the selection down to six finalists, who were all interviewed. According to a statement from the selectboard, they and the search committee met with the top four candidates. At the end of the second round of interviews, the selectboard unanimously decided to offer Kelley the job.

Selectboard Clerk Richard Grenier was pleased with the choice, as well as the process, which involved a wide range of citizen volunteers, including former selectboard Chair Kevin Hayes. He added that near and dear to his heart was having an employee from Town Hall involved. Not only did the committee sit in on the process, but they were urged to ask questions of the final candidates, as well.

“I think we learned a lot,” Grenier said. “It was a really good process.”

Selectboard Chair Chan Eddy wrote in a prepared statement he was “pleasantly surprised” with Kelley’s performance in the selection process, and they did not set out to choose an internal candidate.

“Although we were very familiar with Mr. Kelley’s leadership abilities, his integrity, work ethic, and the professional growth he has shown over the years, we were ultimately sold on his passion for the Gilford community and the people who live here,” Eddy wrote. “His knowledge of Gilford projects and procedures gave him a leg up on the competition, and we are optimistic that his potential for doing great things will come to fruition over time.”

Kelley is looking forward to the new opportunity. He'll start as assistant town administrator under Dunn during the transition. The plan is for Kelley to start on Aug. 3, and after some guidance from Dunn, will move into the administrator role on Aug. 16.

Kelley said this creates the unique ability for Dunn to show him the nuances of the positions and get him up to speed with details.

“The key advantage is that it will be as seamless as possible,” Kelley said.

This familiar leadership is also true of the selectboard that hired him, as Eddy, Gus Benavides and Grenier have worked with each other for many years. Grenier was newly elected this year, and previously served a pair of terms on the board alongside Eddy and Benavides. Many department heads and town employees have been around for years, and Kelley thinks this says a lot about the Town of Gilford.

“The department heads here really get it, and that helps us give Gilford citizens what they want,” Kelley said. “It would be more of a concern to go to a town with some real struggles, but this is a great place to work.”

Staying in Gilford is something to which he is committed, saying the town has been a part of his life for more than a quarter century.

Kelley was born and raised in the Lakes Region, and currently lives in Gilmanton, with his wife Meredith and two children, one who is wrapping up his third year at Gilford High School. He has a 28-year-old son serving in the U.S. Navy, as well.

Kelley and his wife got married just around the time he started working in Gilford.

“She’s been along for the whole ride,” Kelley said.

Kelley has a granddaughter, and enjoys spending spare time working on his farm. He is an avid outdoorsman, with a love of fishing and hunting, and has a desire to, someday, take his golf game to the next level.

But for now, Kelley is excited to take on the new role, and pick up with Dunn left off. He said the town is in great shape under excellent leadership. He noted there are similarities between executive positions in town, and as a chief, his main goal was to serve the town and keep them safe.

“Ultimately, the citizens are the main focus of any public service type job,” Kelley said.

This will be Kelley’s first time to oversee it from the top. This includes maintaining and improving infrastructure, engaging with the community, working on the town budget, public safety and employee retention.

“The administrator role is different where it is under the board of selectmen’s goals, but the department heads and citizens, they bring it all together,” Kelley said. “I think we have strong leadership skills, and that I’ll be successful in that role.”

As a police chief, residents in town often come up to chat while he's grabbing a coffee, or out at the store. He encourages that, saying it has allowed him to hear peoples’ concerns and questions, so he can bring that knowledge back to town departments.

“I want to hear what they have to say.”

Gilford still holds a small town feel in many ways, and he noted it is also very progressive. He lauded the business area, being the home of BankNH Pavilion, and the geographical beauty, that includes Lake Winnipesaukee.

“It is a resort community.”

Kelley said the police department will be in good hands with a deputy chief in place, and a discussion will take place with the selectboard about who his successor will be. While some police departments around the state are struggling with staffing, this is not the case in Gilford, which has a full staff.

“A factor in my decision making here was the health and the success of both the town and the police department,” Kelley said.

Kelley said he has long been impressed by the knowledge Dunn has brought to town, as they have worked together for most of his nearly two decades on the job. He said Dunn has been a great resource during his four years as chief. They always have good dialogue, and even when things don’t align, there has been solid communication.

Kelley appreciates the support he has already received in pursuing the next professional step of his life.

“I am grateful for the trust that the community, and the board of selectmen, has given me to be put in this role,” Kelley said. “It is a great amount of responsibility. I am committed to it, and looking forward to it.”