Meredith’s town manager will resign effective this week in a split that both she and the Board of Selectmen say is mutual. On Tuesday, Town Manager Carol Granfield and the Meredith Board of Selectmen jointly announced Granfield’s resignation effective Oct. 3, saying Granfield will be retiring.
“I think it was time for me and the town to move on,” Granfield said.
Selectmen said in a statement that it is “appreciative of Mrs. Granfield’s service to the Town of Meredith over the last five years and extends best wishes in her retirement and future endeavors.”
The selectmen announced that an interim team, headed by Administrative Services Director Brenda Vittner and Community Development Director John Edgar, will assume town management responsibilities during the transition period.
“We look forward to everyone’s continued cooperation and support as we progress through this period of adjustment with the goal of further improving the town of Meredith,” the statement said.
Board Chair Peter Brothers said the resignation was mutual and Granfield had been expressing some interest in retiring.
“We both basically have agreed that this was going to take place,” Brothers said. “We wish her well and likewise. She’s getting toward retirement, it’s a mutual time and place.”
Brothers said there are no immediate plans to hire a new town manager, though the matter and strategies will be discussed by selectmen and town management during a nonpublic session scheduled this Thursday.
Brothers said Vittner and Edgar have agreed to assume the management responsibilities in the interim and assist the board during the transition.
“I’ll be transitioning with them based on the different aspects of what’s pending” Granfield said, though she will not be part of the process to find a new town manager. “There should be good continuity in the interim with Brenda and John. I’ll just be an interested citizen after this point.”
She added that Vittner and Edgar will “be splitting up various aspects” of the town manager duties.
“I appreciate the hard work of all the town employees because I think that’s what makes the town what it is,” Granfield said.
“We’re moving forward, we’re trying to keep the town moving in good shape,” Brothers said. “(We) will start some sort of a town manager search.” In the meantime “we’ve got some very talented people.”
Granfield said she will do some consulting and some part-time work as well as enjoying having some more free time.
“At this point I’m going to do some part-time work with MRI (Municipal Resources Inc.) and really see what appeals to me, do a little travel, spend some time with our family and keep options open,” Granfield said. “I’ll be able to spend some time with some organizations I’ve been involved.”
Granfield counted the town’s building projects, including the community center, the police station and the in-progress fire station expansion among her successes as town manager as well as keeping public transparency and “keeping continuity with the departments and establishing some process procedures,” including staff reports for the selectmen. Community involvement is one of the things she said she will miss, though she said she will still stay involved.
“I think after almost five years I leave the town perhaps in better shape than it was when I came,” she said. “I think it’s in good shape for the next individual to come in and move on. I’ve worked with a lot of good people both internal and external. I think I’ll miss that, then I’m sure in another capacity I’ll be dealing with the same folks.”
Granfield’s community work has included the Greater Meredith Program, where she is an ex officio board member.
“She’s just been a great liaison for the GMP and the town,” said GMP Executive Director Jeanie Forrester. “She’s been a very positive force.”
Forrester said it is unlikely the program will be effected in a negative way by Granfield’s departure.
“We’ve always had strong involvement from the town,” she said. “I think its been positive and important in terms of communication of what we’ve been doing as an organization.”
“We appreciate what she’s done for the last five years,” Brothers said. “We want to extend our best wishes.”