Denmark Select Board meets candidate for recreation director, plans volunteer-led transition

The Denmark Select Board met May 12 and heard from Samantha Keel, who introduced herself as a Denmark resident and candidate for the recreation director position. Keel told the board she moved to Denmark in 2020, has coached youth soccer and T‑ball in neighboring towns and has two young children, and said she is committed to building community sports opportunities while relying on volunteers to avoid creating a new paid position.

Keel said she reviewed the written job description prepared by the outgoing director Hillary and emphasized a phased transition, including recruiting parents and coaches to assist with tasks such as field preparation, lining, and event support. Board members asked whether the job description had been reviewed and whether a backup support system could be formalized; Keel and the manager agreed to coordinate a meet‑and‑greet with Hillary and interested parents to introduce Keel and solicit volunteers.

Select Board members said they will document Keel’s expressed interest in writing and complete employee paperwork to record the transition. The manager said she will prepare personnel documentation and follow up with the board about timing and logistics. No formal motion or vote on hiring was recorded during the May 12 meeting.

The board and candidate discussed that the early months will require flexibility as teams and seasons launch; Keel said she can accommodate responsibilities alongside her four‑day work schedule. The manager and board agreed to provide support during the handoff and to use existing volunteers and committees where possible to share operational tasks.

Next steps: the manager will prepare the employment paperwork and coordinate an introductory session with the outgoing director and community volunteers; the board will consider formalizing the hire at a subsequent meeting.