(L-R) Town Managers Rob Houseman, Hanover; Brennan Duffy, Norwich; Tom Marsh, Windsor; John Haverstock, Hartford; and Eric Duffy, Woodstock; at the Woodstock Inn & Resort.
Town and city managers have a tough workload. What other CEO deals with the range of issues a town or city manager sees before lunch on a typical day: roads, taxes, environment, economy, housing, transportation, policing and public safety, to name a few? Or hears from more “bosses”—i.e., the entire community?
Held April 2 and 3 at the Woodstock Inn and Resort, the second annual Municipal Solutions Summit offered municipal managers and administrators a rare chance to share, learn, and connect with others who understand this unique workload and experience. Organized primarily by Woodstock, VT, Town Manager Eric Duffy, the event was a small-scale, highly interactive, discussion-based workshop for Upper Valley and Vermont municipal managers to discuss a range of issues.
Along with a general look at “the state of local government in 2025,” the two days included sessions on hiring and retaining great employees, training and working with selectboards, addressing the housing crisis, communication and trust-building with the public, and advocating for municipalities to state government. As one participant explained, “This experience stands out for me because I realize I am not checking my email or other distractions. This time together with other municipal managers is too valuable.”
The 2025 Summit was sponsored by Mascoma Bank, ReThink Local, VC3, Ecopixel, the Woodstock Inn & Resort, and Vital Communities.
Vital Communities also supports municipal managers in the critical work they do through our Municipal Leaders group. Formed by Vital Communities in 2009, the group includes managers of Claremont, Enfield, Hanover, Hartford, Lebanon, Norwich, Thetford, and Windsor.