Keene council gives staff direction to create field manager post and to route lawn‑care contract to EDC board for ratification

Keene councilmembers on June 10 told the city manager to proceed with creating a new field manager position in Public Works and instructed staff to formalize the city’s lawn‑care contract with Dawn’s Lawn Care and return it to the Economic Development Corporation (Type B) and to council for ratification.

Field manager position

City Manager Jonathan Sykes and Public Works staff described the new field manager as a crew leader/facilities/fleet role to oversee street maintenance, utility maintenance and city facility/park upkeep. The position was advertised on the city website with a proposed salary in the mid‑$50,000 range (cited in discussion as $58,000). Staff said the position would replace a former “lawn tech” post and that the Type B EDC fund would cover roughly half of park‑related duties for the remainder of the…