Gardiner city manager Robert A. Peabody resigns; finance director Denise Brown appointed interim effective June 12, 2025

City Manager Robert A. Peabody submitted a resignation letter that the council read into the record on June 11, 2025. The council voted to accept his resignation and appointed Finance Director Denise Brown as interim city manager effective June 12, 2025.

Mayor Patricia Hart read Peabody's letter into the record, which stated in part, "pursuant to section 4, resignation by employee in my contract, I'm resigning my position as city manager." The letter closed, "I believe my resignation is in the best interest of the city and for myself. I'd like to thank the council for the opportunity to have served as city manager. I'm happy to share that I intend to continue to reside in Gardiner and will seek opportunities to contribute to its well-being going forward. Respectfully, Robert A. Peabody."

Councillor Tim Cusick moved to accept Peabody's resignation; the motion was seconded by Councillor Rusty Greenleaf and recorded as a unanimous vote of those present. The council then considered a staff proposal to fill the city manager duties on an interim basis. Councillor Cusick moved to approve the appointment of Denise Brown as interim city manager effective 06/12/2025 and to accept the proposal as written; the motion was seconded by Councillor Debbie Kimball. The council recorded a unanimous vote of those present to appoint Brown.

On the record, council members thanked Brown for stepping into the role and described her as "quite capable"; Brown is the city's finance director and the council recorded the appointment as interim. The resignation letter referenced a contractual provision ("section 4, resignation by employee in my contract"); the council did not include additional contract language on the record at this meeting nor did it provide a timeline for a permanent replacement.