HARTFORD — Earlier this month, the Hartford Selectboard signed a $10,000 contract with a consulting firm founded by a former Hanover town manager for help finding Hartford’s next leader.
The Hartford Selectboard opted to work with Rethink Local — a municipal consulting firm founded by Alex Torpey, of Tunbridge — in a unanimous vote at its April 13 meeting.
For Selectboard member Tim Fariel, Torpey is well-respected as a consultant and able to provide a fresh perspective.
“The Board at-large is impressed with his skill sets, so we felt like that just kind of complemented what we’re trying to do this time,” Fariel said Monday by phone.
The board’s decision followed interviews with Torpey’s firm and two others: the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, based in Montpelier, and Municipal Resources Incorporated, based in Meredith, N.H., Town Manager John Haverstock said Monday.
At Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting, the board is expected to respond to inquiries from Torpey about the town manager’s salary, education, residency and experience requirements, according to the April 28 meeting packet.
“What Hartford, Vermont, needed three years ago is potentially a little different than what they need today,” Torpey said Monday by phone.
Rethink Local will publicize the opening on various platforms and engage in screening and the initial rounds of interviewing, leaving final selection to the Board, said Torpey.
In addition to Rethink Local, there is a town manager selection committee composed of three residents, three town staff members and two Selectboard members. The committee, chaired by Fire Chief Scott Cooney, and Rethink Local will eventually recommend two to four applicants to the Selectboard, which is the appointing entity.
While Haverstock’s three-year term as Hartford’s town manager was slated to end in October, he informed the Selectboard on March 31 of an early retirement. His date of departure is anticipated for July 31, though Haverstock expressed a willingness to stay on a bit longer if necessary.
“I’m hopeful to have a week or so of overlap with any successor so I can kind of pass the torch along,” Haverstock said Monday by phone.
Torpey served as Hanover’s town manager for approximately two years following the departure of Julia Griffin, who had held the role for 25 years. Torpey left Hanover in 2024, one year before the end of his three-year contract, the Valley News reported at the time.
While Hanover has not released information regarding the context of Torpey’s departure, he said he chose to step down to pursue other opportunities.
Hanover gave him a $135,750 severance package, the Valley News reported.
“It was kind of the best thing to do, and I’ve been really happy doing consulting,” said Torpey. His firm also operates a civic engagement-related podcast called “Upper Valley Vibes.”
In addition to aiding in Hartford’s town manager search, Rethink Local — which also employs Yoshi Manale, whom the Claremont City Council fired from the city manager position in April of last year — was the only bidder to help create an asset and capital improvement plan for the town, projected to take about four months.
Rethink Local is a public benefit corporation, according to its website. The organization has conducted town manager/administrator searches for Waterville Valley, New Boston and Swanzey, N.H. and Westford, Vt. A full list of projects, including Torpey’s role with Randolph Planning and Zoning, is accessible on the recruitments and projects page. Torpey and Manale are the firm’s only employees.
The firm started work on the capital improvement plan last week, said Haverstock. The town is expected to pay Torpey’s firm $20,500 total for the effort, as noted in the April 28 Selectboard meeting packet. The fee is 90% funded by a municipal planning grant, with a 10% match from the town.
Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. in Hartford Town Hall, 171 Bridge St.
