HARTFORD — Town Manager John Haverstock will retire this summer.
Haverstock, who has served as town manager since October 2023, informed the Selectboard of his decision during Tuesday night’s meeting, according to a Hartford town newsletter that was sent out Wednesday. He plans to retire in July or August.
“It’s been a good nearly three years for me,” Haverstock said in a Wednesday phone interview. He currently lives in Quechee and after retiring he plans to move to Addison, Vt., where his partner resides.
He felt the time was right to leave the position and even though his three-year contract is set to end this October, he wanted to retire this summer after he turns 64. He is looking forward to traveling with his partner, who retired about a year ago.
“She’s been making it clear that she would like to join me in retirement,” he said. “I think it’s healthy for when you get to a certain stage in your life to make a decision that’s best for one and one’s family and to enjoy life because we don’t get to live forever.”
Haverstock’s three-year contract will end this October. He currently makes around $158,000 a year.
Additionally, he said that he thinks the current Selectboard should have an opportunity to choose who they want to lead the town. Haverstock noted that Mary Erdei, who served as the board’s chair until last month, is the only member of the seven-person Selectboard who was in office when he was hired.
“They all inherited me,” he said, emphasizing that there is no tension between him and the current Selectboard. “We get along famously and they’ve all said wonderful things, but I do feel I owe it to the town to let the members of the board have their own choice.”
Prior to coming to Hartford, Haverstock served as town manager of Pittsford, Vt., for 14 years. He retired from that role about a year before he saw the job posting in Hartford and decided to apply.
He replaced Tracy Yarlott-Davis, who left the position in December 2022 after the Selectboard placed her on administrative leave and later came to a severance agreement with her.
Haverstock was chosen from a pool of 55 applicants who applied for the position through a nationwide search, according to an August 2023 Valley News article. An advisory committee reviewed the applications and recommended finalists to the Selectboard, which ultimately hired Haverstock.
“John joined the Town of Hartford at a critical time, bringing experience and a steady, professional presence that gave the Town the stability it needed in the wake of the COVID era,” the Selectboard wrote in a statement. “The dedication and integrity John models has left a lasting imprint on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.”
Haverstock also said his tenure included “bringing a sense of stability to the town and restoring kind of regular order in town government.” He is additionally proud “that our budgets have passed easily and our infrastructure bonds have passed easily.”
Voters approved bonds totaling $7.86 million for water main improvements and a $23.38 million town operating budget via Australian ballot voting during March’s Town Meeting.
While Haverstock said he would provide the Selectboard with any logistical support it needs for conducting a search for a new leader, he otherwise will remain removed from the process of finding his successor.
“I’m hopeful that there can be some overlap between my tenure and the new person beginning so we can share some information and do some shadowing,” he said.
At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the Selectboard said it would form a Town Manager Selection Committee. The seven committee members, who will be appointed by the Selectboard, will include two Selectboard members, three Hartford employees and two members of the public.
Residents who are interested in serving on the committee must fill out an application by 4 p.m. on Monday, April 13, at hartford-vt.org/3776/Boards-Committees-Commissions-Applicatio.
CORRECTION: Mary Erdei is a member of the Hartford Selectboard who served as the board’s chair until last month. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Erdei’s current role on the board.
