The Montpelier City Council voted to advertise the city manager position with a salary range of $140,000 to $170,000 and later rescinded a plan to appoint a stakeholder advisory panel to the hiring process.

The approved pay range is intended to make the city’s recruitment competitive; council members debated affordability, recruitment strategy and public engagement before the vote. Councilors later voted 4–2 to rescind a previous decision to form a stakeholder advisory panel, after a sustained debate about the panel’s purpose, transparency and timeline.

Why it matters: The salary range and process decisions shape who applies and how the public will be able to participate in choosing Montpelier’s next city manager, a role that sets municipal priorities and oversees city operations.

Council discussion and vote

City consultant Ian (first name given in the meeting) told the council that national and regional postings showed rising pay for comparable municipal executive roles and recommended a competitive range to attract qualified candidates. After public comments and extended council debate, Councilor Carrie Brown moved to advertise the position with a $140,000–$170,000 range; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Councilors debated trade-offs: advocates for a higher top of range argued it would broaden the candidate pool and attract experienced executives, while others argued the city should avoid escalating administrative costs during a tight budget season and preferred a lower range with future merit increases.

Public engagement and advisory panel

Council previously agreed to form a stakeholder advisory panel to gather public input and review finalist candidates; several councilors and members of the public urged a role for outside stakeholders. After extended discussion about how panel members would be selected, the panel’s duties, confidentiality and timeline, Councilor Ellen (surname not specified in the transcript) moved to rescind the earlier decision. On a roll call the motion carried 4–2, ending plans to appoint an advisory panel.

The council directed staff and the recruitment consultant to develop alternate outreach steps to increase public participation in the search, including a public forum on Oct. 18 and an evening virtual option. Human resources director Tanya Cheevers advised the council the Oct. 18 date is available for the public forum and staff will work on timing and promotion.

What the council directed next

- Staff will advertise the position with the $140,000–$170,000 range and proceed with recruitment materials.
- The public forum(s) will be scheduled (Oct. 18 was proposed) and the consultant will work on stakeholder outreach and surveys.
- With the advisory panel decision rescinded, staff and the consultant were asked to propose alternative ways to gather broadly representative public input and report back to council.

The council’s decisions set the search timetable in motion but leave several implementation details—public forum timing, outreach strategy, and final brochure wording—for staff and the recruitment consultant to complete before the posting and finalist stage.