NORTH HAVERHILL — For the first time in more than 18 years, Grafton County officials are looking for a new county administrator to oversee the workings of the jail, nursing home and farm at the complex in North Haverhill.
But longtime County Administrator Julie Libby won’t be far away. She is stepping aside to fill the newly created position of finance director, allowing her to focus more deeply on the county’s $48.5 million budget.
Last month, county commissioners unanimously approved Libby’s move to the finance position effective Jan. 1, or later if the administrator’s job is not yet filled.
County officials have begun advertising the job on the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s website.
Commission Chairwoman Linda Lauer, D-Bath, said county officials have talked for several years about creating the finance director job and funded it for the fiscal year 2021 budget, which started this summer. The impetus for the 49-year-old Libby to take the new job was entirely hers, Lauer said.
Libby, who started working for the county as what was then called the financial supervisor in 1993, has essentially been doing both jobs since she became county administrator — then called executive director — in 2002.
“We have recognized for a long time that asking one person to handle the finances of a $40 million-plus organization plus do the personnel (and management) was asking too much of one person,” said Lauer, adding that Libby has “incredible finance skills.”
“She has led us through some very, very difficult budgetary times, starting with the nursing home renovation,” Lauer said. “She’s brought us back. We are in a wonderful financial position.”
The county undertook a major upgrade to its nursing home about five years ago and opted to use surplus funds and other revenue rather than a bond for the project.
During Libby’s tenure, the county also built a new jail, replacing an antiquated facility, and moved to biomass heating.
Libby, who graduated from Woodsville High School in 1989 and then earned an associate degree in accounting from Champlain College, said she was proud to have worked with “a lot of fantastic employees that have helped to make my job easier over the years.”
“The past number of months during this pandemic have shown me just how proud I am of the employees here — they have done such a great job navigating this COVID-19 situation and reacting to everything that has been thrown at us,” she said via email.
Libby said she decided to transfer to the finance director’s job “because that is what I love to do.”
As part of the transition, Libby will take a pay cut. The county administrator’s job is budgeted for $133,640 for fiscal year 2021, while the finance director’s job will pay $107,184 annually.
Commissioner Wendy Piper, D-Enfield, said some department heads have been “overbudgeting” and ultimately not spending all that has been appropriated, perhaps leading at times to a higher tax rate than necessary. Having Libby concentrating entirely on finances might help limit that issue, Piper said.
And former County Commissioner Mike Cryans, who helped hire Libby in 2002, said she is a thorough manager and anticipates questions that commissioners might have about a subject.
“She is a diligent worker who is always well-prepared and very detailed and conscientious,” said Cryans, a Hanover Democrat who is now a member of the Executive Council. “Julie often was a resource for other counties.”
News staff writer John P. Gregg can be reached at jgregg@vnews.com or 603-727-3217.