Public to meet new Meredith parks & rec, public works leaders Jan. 12

MEREDITH — Two town leadership positions have been quickly filled, according to Town Manager Judie Milner. The community will have an opportunity to meet the new directors of the parks and recreation and public works departments at the selectboard meeting on Monday, Jan. 12.

Krystal Alpers, the new parks & rec director, may be new to Meredith, but is familiar face to Milner. Alpers is currently the Franklin Parks & Rec director, and is slated to take on her new role starting on Monday, March 2. Alpers was notified she was selected on Dec. 23, but gave a 60-day notice to finish her time serving Franklin.

“I worked with her my entire career, first as a finance director, and then when I took over as manager,” Milner said of Alpers. “I am very aware of what she is capable of.”

The town hired from within for the public works director, with Craig Hale moving up from the assistant director position to lead the department after Mike Faller. Hale was notified of his hiring on Dec. 15.

“Mike’s last working day was on the 24th of December, and I went down to the garage where we had a passing of the keys,” Milner said. “Craig has been the director since.”

Both Hale and Alpers have been signed on for salaries of $106,367 each.

Milner said she stayed out of the hiring process, and instead observed a five-person panel in charge of interviewing. Both hiring panels included Director of Human Resources and Special Projects Chris Janosa, Finance and Administrative Services Director Robert Carpenter, and a member of the police department.

Heading parks & rec

For the parks & rec director hiring, Amy Lovisek, head of Laconia Parks & Rec, and Concord Parks & Rec Director David Gill were on the panel. The public works panel included Public Works Director Justin Hanscom from Franklin, and Laconia Public Works Director Wes Anderson.

The parks & rec position was a hot commodity, as 41 people applied. Milner noted about half weren’t qualified, as well as many former and current parks & rec leaders who threw their hats in the ring.

Milner said she was happy to see Alpers apply, and wanted her to go through the whole process, like all other candidates. She said the committee felt Alpers was “hands down” the right person for Meredith.

“But I knew that already,” Milner said.

Milner said there were “quite a few” qualified applicants from departments around the area, and she was the clear pick out of the panel's top five candidates.

Milner said the number of applicants, and viable ones at that, is a testament to what Director Vint Choiniere built in Meredith over a career that spanned nearly three decades.

She stressed the importance of the parks & rec director in a town like Meredith, saying most people realize it is a town which lives and relies on recreation for a number of reasons. The community center is not only a spot for recreation, but also the office of the director, and the meeting place for town boards and committees. It is also the home base for after school programs and community events.

Milner said Alpers was suited to the role because of her ample experience, spending 17 years in Franklin as the director. She was involved in creating a new community center, and also integral in the Mill City Park project, where she still serves on the board.

The town has plans to continue to revive Old Home Day, and there is a “huge” project on the horizon for Prescott Park. Milner said it will be quite an undertaking that includes athletic fields for the Inter-Lakes School District.

“She has the best experience to take on a project of that size,” Milner said. “She clearly has the leadership, and there is no better community event planner. That is something we are looking for.”

Milner also praised Alpers for her grant-writing skills, saying they were especially needed in the City of Franklin. Alpers administered at least 20 grants for the city during her time, including a half-dozen Land and Water Conservation Grants, which Milner noted can be hard to get. She anticipates her bringing this skill to Meredith, and in the case of Prescott Park, find funding mechanisms to make the project more palatable for the taxpayer, and more valuable for the community.

Leading public works

In the public works department, Hale started the new role Jan. 1. Hale has worked for the town since 2017, starting as the operations manager and then moving to assistant director in 2022. During that time, he worked closely with Faller, making him an ideal candidate to take the lead.

Milner said there were four candidates selected to be interviewed. One dropped out because they took another role, and another dropped out without explanation. She said the panel was “100% behind Mr. Hale.

“They felt the other candidate wasn’t qualified enough in the roads portion of the position,” said Milner.

Milner said the department covers roads, solid waste, buildings and grounds, the cemetery, and the entire mechanical garage fleet.

Milner said Hale learned a lot from Faller, who was also with the town nearly three decades, and laid a solid groundwork for the team.

“He was clearly ready to get into the director role,” Milner said.

Hale’s first task is to fill the now-open assistant director position, saying he has the unenviable task of replacing himself.

The meet and greet will start with an introduction by Milner, then an informal chance for the public to chat with both directors. Refreshments will be served, and a light selectboard agenda will follow.

The meeting takes place at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, at the Meredith Community Center.