Killington: We’re hiring

Rutland Herald

By Lola Duffort
STAFF WRITER | October 23,2015

 

KILLINGTON — The search is on to find the town’s next manager.
With a replacement unlikely to be in place by Town Manager Seth Webb’s Dec. 31 departure date, the Select Board Tuesday night voted to appoint Dick Horner, longtime director of planning and zoning administrator, to the position on an interim basis.
Horner will begin work Dec. 1 and work with Webb in the last month of his tenure.
“Dick knows the town, the people, and the issues, and the board is confident he will help ensure a smooth transition during this interim period,” Select Board Chairwoman Patty McGrath said.
An employee of Killington for more than 25 years, and once the Select Board chairman in his hometown of Proctor, Horner will continue to serve in his current capacities during the interim period. He will receive $1,100 twice monthly in addition to his current annual salary of $60,173.
According to a draft job posting, Killington will offer to pay their next manager between $75,000 and $95,000, depending on education and experience, to oversee its $15 million budget and 104 full- and part-time employees.
With the town home to two resorts and about 2,500 second homeowners, Killington’s officials say they plan to pick a manager with a view to the town’s growing tourism economy.
“The town seeks a leader (who) can support its progress in becoming Vermont’s premier resort community, offering residents a high quality of life and tourists a memorable mountain adventure,” the posting reads.
Killington is casting its net widely: A posting will be advertised in regional newspapers, job-hunting websites, and sent out to municipal associations in other states, Webb said Wednesday.
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns will help Killington in their recruitment efforts, compiling applications, reviewing and ranking them, scheduling interviews and coordinating meetings. They may bill the town up to $5,000 for their services, Webb said.
The board will solicit input from residents, and is recruiting for a three-member citizen search committee to serve in an advisory capacity during the process. They will not participate in candidate interviews or the final selection.
Letters of interest to serve on the committee are due to Webb by Nov. 9 at 5 p.m., and the Select Board plans to appoint the committee Nov. 11.
The board has scheduled two meetings with town government leaders to touch base about their priorities in the search: One at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday with senior municipal staff, the other at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 with elected and appointed officials from the town’s boards and commissions. Both meetings will be held in town offices and open to the public.