WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The town Selectboard on Monday named a seasoned municipal administrator in Vermont as its next town manager.

John Haverstock, a former trial attorney, recently served 14 years as town manager in Pittsford, Vt., before retiring in 2022. He plans to sign an employment agreement with the town at the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday.

Haverstock told the Valley News that he is looking forward to serving the community and to helping the Selectboard implement its vision for the town.

“Hartford is a very dynamic community, larger than Pittsford and more complex, and those challenges are exciting to me,” Haverstock said.

The town parted ways with former Town Manager Tracy Yarlott-Davis in December, six weeks after placing her on administrative leave. Director Gail Ostrout has served since October as acting town manager and Human Resources Director Paula Nulty has filled the role of acting assistant town manager.

Haverstock said he was impressed by Hartford’s “young, engaged and progress-minded selectboard” as well as the members of the Town Manager Search Advisory Committee.

“They are very much in love with the community and are proud of it,” Haverstock said.

Selectboard Chairperson Michael Hoyt said that Haverstock demonstrated the qualities that residents and town employees had prioritized in the next municipal leader — experienced, community-driven and familiar with Vermont government — during public listening sessions in April.

“John really distinguishes himself based on his previous experience as a town manager, his knowledge of Vermont local government and his collegial personality,” Hoyt said in a written statement. “I think he will be a great fit.”

Before moving to Pittsford in 2008,  Haverstock was an attorney in the Greater Hartford region of Connecticut. Haverstock also served two elected terms as a town councilor of Windsor, Conn., a town of over 29,000.

“A small town by Connecticut standards but a large town by Vermont standards,” he said.

Haverstock, who grew up in Arlington, Va., an urban area of over 230,000 residents bordering Washington, D.C., said he believes he can help further Hartford’s goals to be a diverse and inclusive community.

Diversity and inclusion “are nothing new for me,” Haverstock said. “I grew up in a diverse community and have done a lot of world travel,” along with other experiences.

As town manager of Pittsford — a position he applied for after moving to the town — Haverstock provided a needed stability in municipal leadership. Prior to Haverstock, the town had a lot of turnover in the top role. During his tenure, Haverstock said, he helped secure grants to fund water and sewer infrastructure upgrades and the demolition of a defunct icehouse and mill building on Sugar Hollow Brook that had become an environmental hazard.

“Now there is a restored river where fish can migrate as they see fit,” he said.

Haverstock said he aspires to serve Hartford for a number of years. Citing his time in Pittsford, Haverstock said that creating stability in a community typically results from “just being on the job for a long period of time” while “getting to know the community” and developing a strong working relationship with the Selectboard.

“I would like to be in Hartford for a long time and to savor the welcoming community that Hartford has become,” Haverstock said.

Haverstock said he plans to relocate to Hartford and is currently researching properties. He expects to officially start the job on Oct. 2.

The town received 55 applicants from a nationwide search. In March, the Selectboard created a 10-member advisory committee to recommend finalists for consideration by the board.

Gabrielle Lucke, chairperson of the committee, said eight candidates were selected for interviews, though one candidate withdrew from consideration.

After the interviews, the committee recommended four finalists, including Haverstock, to the Selectboard.

“All four candidates were exceptional,” Lucke told the Valley News. “I was thrilled for this opportunity to have such a dynamic field. This was one of the strongest pools of candidates I have seen” in my multiple involvements in town manager searches.

Lucke noted that Haverstock was one of the few candidates who had applied specifically for the Hartford position, in contrast to applicants who were applying to a number of town administrator vacancies.

“Hartford as a whole is ready to move forward, and I think he is a leader who will enable us to do that,” Lucke said.

Working in conjunction with municipal recruitment firm, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, or VLCT, the search committee gathered input from residents and employees about candidate preferences, drafted and advertised a job description, reviewed resumes and application materials and interviewed and screened the candidates.

“The selection committee was outstanding in terms of representing different facets of our community while being focused on” carrying out the duties of our appointment, Lucke said.

Patrick Adrian may be reached at padrian@vnews.com or at 603.727-3216.