HARTFORD — With town manager John Haverstock on his way out the door, the town has appointed Gail Ostrout for a three-year contract, though she is willing to serve even longer.
This is not Ostrout’s first gig as a Hartford town official, nor her first experience in the town manager role.
“The reason why I applied for it is because I’ve invested almost a decade in Hartford,” Ostrout said Thursday by phone. “And I really enjoy the community.”
Ostrout, a Thetford resident, served as Hartford’s finance director for nine years, and as interim town manager from 2022 to 2023, before the town hired Haverstock. Ostrout did not apply for the role of permanent town manager at the time, she said.
Haverstock decided to retire early, about two months ahead of his three-year anniversary as town manager in October.
Ostrout’s first day of work is July 27. Next week, she’ll begin the onboarding and training process with guidance from Haverstock. She feels it will be a smooth transition considering her existing knowledge of the town.
Ostrout’s starting salary is $165,000, she said.
Ostrout has worked in nonprofits for the majority of career, including as chief financial officer at an affordable housing economic development corporation, and chose to bring that experience into municipal roles, she said.
Empowering staff and community members to get involved is a skill Ostrout says will allow the town to excel. “That’s how you build trust, you build relationships and how you’re successful,” said Ostrout.
While Ostrout isn’t certain what the top priorities are ahead of training with Haverstock, she plans to focus on finalizing the capital improvement plan and making sure the budget schedule is locked down.
Back in April, Hartford hired municipal consulting firm Rethink Local in a $10,000 contract to help find the next town manager.
The firm’s founder, Alex Torpey, served as Hanover’s town manager for approximately two years following the departure of Julia Griffin, who had held the role for 25 years. Torpey left Hanover in 2024, one year before the end of his three-year contract, the Valley News reported at the time.
Torpey and Fire Chief Scott Cooney narrowed down the over 30 applications to about one dozen for consideration by the town manager hiring committee of nine people, including selectboard members, Hartford employees and community members, said Cooney, who chaired the committee.
The committee wanted a candidate with local experience and the ability to engage with the community on a regular basis, Cooney said. “There was a desire to get a candidate that could pick up the ball and start right away,” he said. “And definitely she met all those qualifications.”
Among the three candidates brought forth by the hiring committee, the Selectboard voted unanimously to appoint Ostrout in a July 13 Special Selectboard meeting.
“She brings substantial experience in Hartford’s municipal government and is well known to Staff, the Selectboard and the broader Hartford community,” Haverstock said of Ostrout by email.
Ostrout is interested in remaining in the role beyond the initial contract period. She feels that the first few years come with some adjustment and that longevity in leadership would be a major benefit to the town. “It’s all about the long game,” Ostrout said.
