Town Council Begin Search For the Next Town Manager

The Town Council faced questions during its Jan. 6 meeting, regarding the open Town Manager position. With the departure of former Town Manager Mike Malaguti, Recreation Director Art Psaledas was appointed Acting Town Manager for up to 120 days. Going into the meeting, it was unclear what the Town Council was doing to find a replacement.
Resident Richard Bielinski said he doesn’t know why people in Town keep calling him and asking him what is going on with the position.
“Where is the search heading? Have you advertised it now? What is being done,” he asked.
Bielinski also raised concerns about a Dec. 27 non-public meeting, which according to the minutes, the Town Council met with U.S. Marshall Bill Hart, who formerly served as Police Chief, and at one time Acting Town Manager for the town of Londonderry, about the open position.
“Where did that come about?” Bielinski said.
He explained that people in Town are wondering about the position, and how people can apply.
“Why hasn’t it been advertised?” Bielinski said.
Kristine Perez, said she wrote a letter to members of the Town Council following a phone call she had with four out of five of them, about the position not being posted, questioning why the process wasn’t expedited to find their next Town Manager.
Former Town Councilor Jim Butler, who has spoken out at a number of meetings since his son’s, Bo Butler’s, resignation as Fire Chief in October, argued that the meeting with Hart shouldn’t have been scheduled until there was a job posting.
“Guys say what you want, it was a job interview,” Butler said, arguing that the process should be the same for everyone.
Following the meeting, the Town released a statement, regarding the search for its next Town Manager.
“At their meeting on Jan. 6, 2025, the Londonderry Town Council announced that the recruitment process for the Town Manager position will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. The posting and job description can be found on the Town’s website at londonderrynh.gov/town-manager-posting. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 7, 2025,” the statement read.
It was explained that the “Town Manager for Londonderry is responsible for the administrative and financial affairs of the Town, overseeing the day-to-day operations by managing all Town departments with a workforce of more than 200 employees, and implementing policies established by a five-member Town Council.”
“Londonderry’s character is diverse, combining residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational activities,” the statement read in part. “The Town maintains its quality of life by supporting an excellent school system, preserving thousands of acres of open space, and encouraging land use practices to promote a healthy suburban lifestyle. Londonderry is proud that its departments, including Police, Fire and Public Works, are regarded as some of the best in the state. The Town seeks an effective leader with a proven record of innovative, professional management experience to build upon a tradition of excellence.”