New Hampton hires Forrester as town administrator

NEW HAMPTON — Jeanie Forrester — a former state senator, gubernatorial candidate, and current member of the Meredith Selectboard — has been named the new town administrator.

Forrester will start her new position on Monday, Nov. 2, and said she is excited to get started.

“I am ready to go.”

Forrester is former the director of intergovernmental affairs at the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and has previous town administrator experience in Tilton. She received her master of business administration from the University of New Hampshire.

Forrester resigned from her position at BEA effective Oct. 2. In the meantime, she will be tending to personal matters, and getting up-to-speed on how the town works before starting her new role. She has already attended a New Hampton Selectboard meeting, and had a chance to talk with her predecessor, Corey Davenport, who is working on a contractual basis with the town for six hours a week until Forrester starts.

“The town is very well run,” Forrester said. “It’s a three-member board, and they’re already talking about their budget and getting ready.”

She expects to attend at least one of the New Hampton budget meetings to get a better sense of their process.

New Hampton is a community Forrester knows well, as the neighbor to her hometown of Meredith.

“New Hampton was in my district as a state senator, so I am very familiar with the community,” Forrester said Friday. “I’ve always really liked it. It’s a great opportunity for me to work with a community that I’ve worked with in the past.”

Forrester said she had a great opportunity three years ago for a position with BEA, but getting back into local, municipal work has been on her mind. She said the fact this was an opportunity close to home, and a job she loves, made it especially appealing.

“At a local level, I feel you can make much more of an impact than state government,” Forrester said.

Forrester will remain a member of the Meredith Selectboard, where she has served three terms. She said the New Hampton Selectboard is aware of the current situation. Meredith has selectboard meetings at 4:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of the month, while New Hampton meets from 6 to 9 p.m. every Thursday night.

According to a statement released by the selectboard on Oct. 9, Forrester’s duties will include assisting the selectboard in the day-to-day management of the town operations; coordinating with department heads; preparing the annual budget; implementing board policies; and overseeing capital projects that support the town’s infrastructure and community services.

Selectboard Chair Michael Drake said the board is “very glad” to have her, especially as she is coming onboard right at the start of budget season.

The town contracted with Municipal Resources Inc. to search for a town administrator in August, which led to 24 applicants. Six were recommended by MRI, who were all interviewed by the selectboard. Forrester came away as the front runner, with Drake saying her “extensive, very impressive background” and solid interview led to her hiring.

“She came out No. 1,” Drake said. “We are very please to have her coming onboard.”

The interview committee was composed of the current selectboard members, and three previous members who have been involved in town affairs over the years. Drake said the town was happy to have her apply, being a former state senator serving New Hampton, and also a former town administrator in nearby Tilton.

Davenport recently took a town manager job in Plymouth. Drake said the town has had a good transition, with Davenport’s assistance. He said the Town of Plymouth approved him helping in the interim, as he did the same for them when he was hired and finishing out his duties in New Hampton. He will be working contractually with New Hampton until the end of October.

Drake knows Forrester will hit the ground running in the busy budget sessions, as well as the upcoming restoration project at the New Hampton Town House. The historic building, erected in 1798, holds elections. The restoration work was approved by voters at the 2026 Town Meeting, and work will begin following the Nov. 3 General Election.

One new aspect for Forrester is New Hampton is an SB 2 town, which means Town Meeting is separated into a deliberative session followed by a second session on voting day. She hasn’t worked under this format, but doesn’t anticipate any issue.

Drake said in a prepared statement Forrester will “significantly strengthen our provision of municipal services” in New Hampton. He added Friday morning the board is very happy she accepted the role.

“We were looking for, and me personally, for someone who could bring a team together,” Drake said. “Someone who shows good leadership skills and good forethought on things to come. She pretty much fit the scope of what the board was looking to accomplish.”