Issue · Warner, NH

Town Administrator hiring process and role review

Year-long vacancy in a key leadership position despite prior town vote to fill it, raising questions about hiring process, transparency, and whether the role is needed.

Overview

The Town Administrator position became contentious after public demands for Kathy Frenette's reinstatement following audit findings and an ongoing investigation. The board declined to reinstate her and later shifted to a deliberate hiring process open to public input while residents debate the role's necessity and methodology.

Background

The Town Administrator issue first surfaced publicly at the March 17, 2026 Select Board meeting when residents presented a 30-signature resolution demanding reinstatement of Kathy Frenette along with fulfillment of RSA 91-A requests and action on 2024 audit findings such as welfare list leaks and duplicate payments.

The board refused substantive comment citing legal counsel and an ongoing Merrimack County Sheriff's investigation, taking no action on the resolution.

At the April 14, 2026 meeting residents continued to express conflicting views on Frenette's employment status and fitness for office, with some citing policy failures and others criticizing the board's investigation handling and potential conflicts of interest; the board voted not to reinstate her.

By the May 12, 2026 meeting the focus had shifted to the process for filling the now-vacant position, with the board expressing a desire to move slowly and seek public input while residents questioned the use of outside services, the hiring methodology, and whether the position should exist at all.

The board stated its intent to gather feedback but had not yet established a concrete plan for doing so, leaving the leadership structure and hiring approach unresolved amid ongoing community division.

At the June 9, 2026 meeting, Mike Smith pressed for faster progress on the year-long Town Administrator vacancy, arguing that advertisement should have occurred months earlier given the town vote to fill the role, while repeatedly complaining about agendas and materials being delivered only one day in advance or not at all in violation of the three-day requirement; Alfred Hanson stated the posting is not yet ready and agreed to take the distribution complaints under advisement with no timeline or process change adopted. The board also voted to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) to discuss hiring.

How it unfolded

Residents presented a 30-signature resolution demanding reinstatement of Kathy Frenette, fulfillment of RSA 91-A requests, and action on 2024 audit findings; the board refused substantive comment citing legal counsel and an ongoing investigation and took no action.

2026-03-17Select Board

Meeting →

Residents expressed conflicting views on Frenette's employment status and fitness for office; the board voted not to reinstate her.

2026-04-14Select Board

Meeting →

Residents read a statement in support of Kathy Frenette and disagreed with the board's prior decision to allow an opposition statement; another resident argued the Select Board cannot adequately manage the town and that a Town Administrator is necessary; the board did not issue a formal response.

2026-04-28Select Board

Meeting →

The board discussed the Town Administrator hiring process, expressed a desire to move slowly and seek public input, and continued interview processes while residents questioned methodology, outside services, and whether the position should exist.

2026-05-12Select Board

Meeting →

Mike Smith pressed for faster action on the year-long Town Administrator vacancy and repeated complaints about late email delivery of agendas and materials; Alfred Hanson stated the posting is not yet ready and will take complaints under advisement with no timeline set; board voted to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) to discuss hiring.

2026-06-09Select Board

Meeting →

Arguments in favor

Frenette should be reinstated because the board has the prerogative to reprimand and reinstate the Town Administrator if desired.

select-board 2026-03-17

For

A historical review of past Town Administrators and consultation with current employees should be performed to identify successes and failures before deciding on the role.

select-board 2026-05-12

For

Transparency requires providing all Select Board members the same materials in a timely manner including fulfillment of RSA 91-A requests.

select-board 2026-03-17

For

Advertisement for the Town Administrator position should have occurred months ago because the town voted to fill it.

select-board 2026-06-09

For

The town needs a Town Administrator because the Select Board is unable to adequately manage the town.

select-board 2026-04-28

For

Arguments against

Frenette is unfit for the Town Administrator role due to failure to follow policies such as release of welfare recipient names and duplicate invoice payments.

select-board 2026-04-14

Against

The position may not need to be filled at all and the board should consider not hiring a Town Administrator.

select-board 2026-05-12

Against

The board should use an outside service to manage the hiring process while moving slowly and seeking public input.

select-board 2026-05-12

Against

Key voices

“Presented a resolution signed by approximately 30 residents calling for reinstatement of Kathy Frenette and greater transparency on materials and RSA 91-A requests.”

James Gaffney/Residentselect-board 2026-03-17

“Read a letter representing many residents expressing loss of confidence in Kathy Frenette and arguing she is unfit due to policy failures.”

Ms. McNeil/Residentselect-board 2026-04-14

“Suggested the Select Board consider not hiring a Town Administrator at all and perform a historical review of past administrators.”

Residentselect-board 2026-05-12

“Pressed for faster action on year-long vacancy and argued advertisement should have been done months ago as town voted to fill it; repeated complaints about late email delivery of agendas and materials.”

Mike Smith/Select Boardselect-board 2026-06-09

“She read a statement in support of Kathy Frenette. She also expressed disagreement with the Board's previous decision to allow Sarah McNeil to read a statement in opposition to Frenette's reinstatement.”

Residentselect-board 2026-04-28

“He stated that the Select Board is unable to adequately manage the town and argued that the town needs a Town Administrator.”

Residentselect-board 2026-04-28

What's next

The board will seek public feedback on the Town Administrator hiring process.

Where it was discussed

Meetings that took up this issue.

Select Board

2026-06-09Mike Smith pressed for faster action on year-long vacancy and advertisement timing

Meeting →

Select Board

2026-05-12Hiring process concerns including methodology and public input