GUILFORD — Rebecca Stone, Guilford's Town Administrator, tendered her resignation at the Sept. 14 regular Selectboard meeting. Oct. 2 was her last day.
Board members expressed their regret, and appreciation to Stone, upon receiving the announcement.
In a telephone conversation with The Commons, Board Chair Anne Rider said Stone “found a position that was a better fit, was part-time, and was close to home."
The board is not yet ready to advertise for a new Town Administrator, Rider said.
During the first week of October, board members Dick Clark and Sheila Morse are revising the job description. At the Sept. 28 regular Board meeting, Clark said he already “chopped the devil right out of it."
The search may be “different,” Rider said, focusing more on “word-of-mouth” outreach than a traditional ad.
She noted “there's no need to rush” to fill the position, because two of the major demands of the job are already covered.
At the Sept. 28 meeting, the Board unanimously voted to hire Putney Town Manager Cynthia Stoddard “a few hours per week” to provide financial services until the town hires a town administrator.
Rider said Stoddard will work for Guilford “during her off-hours” and Stoddard has assured Putney's Selectboard this will not interfere with her duties to Putney.
“We're very grateful to” Stoddard, Rider said, mentioning Stoddard's in-depth knowledge of the New England Municipal Resource Center (NEMRC) municipal accounting software that both Guilford and Putney use.
“She was our trainer” on the software when Guilford implemented it, Rider said.
Rider also told The Commons the town's clerical needs are covered. She said when Emergency Management Director Ron Lenker found out Stone was leaving and the town needed clerical assistance, “Ron said, 'I can do that.'"
“We have the support we need,” Rider said.