FAIRLEE — The former Vershire town clerk is Fairlee’s new town administrator.
Gene Craft, who served as Vershire town clerk for more than 15 years, began his new role in Fairlee on March 2, said Peter Berger, who chairs the Fairlee’s Selectboard.
Craft replaces Ryan Lockwood, who held the role for two years before leaving last December to become town manager in Williamstown, Vt.
The Selectboard conducted the search for Lockwood’s replacement, Berger said in a phone interview. After narrowing the applications down to three candidates, the board voted to hire Craft in early February.
“His municipal background and personality and (we) just had a general feeling that he would be a good fit to work effectively with our staff,” Berger said about the three-person Selectboard’s decision to hire Craft.
The town budgeted $62,489 for the town administrator salary and benefits for 2026, according to the town report. At Town Meeting last Tuesday, Fairlee voters approved a $1.53 million operating budget.