Gray council keeps interim town manager Lauren for six months while planning full search

The Gray Town Council voted to retain Interim Town Manager Lauren for a six-month period while the next council designs and conducts a permanent town manager search.

Council Chair Mike Johnson said the decision followed consultations with town attorneys and conversations among councilors who judged it inappropriate to rush a permanent hire before new council members are seated. "Let Lauren stay on for the next six months," he said, asking the council to give the next group time to conduct interviews and decide on a permanent appointment.

Councilor Ann said she supported a broad search and recommended hiring a consultant to manage the process rather than having a council member run it, citing the workload and the need for impartial recruitment. Councilor Vince and Councilor Charity also voiced support for keeping Lauren in place; Vince said staff reported strong communication and follow-up under Lauren's leadership.

Lauren thanked the council and said she has worked for the town for about eight-and-a-half years and looks forward to continuing in the interim role.

Why it matters: Councilors framed the pause as a way to protect continuity of town operations and give the next, incoming council the time to participate in a full recruitment and vetting process. Several councilors said the position can be difficult to fill and that requiring residency could shrink the candidate pool.

What's next: The council will leave the interim appointment in place for six months while the incoming council decides whether to hire a consultant to run the permanent search and to finalize any job description updates.