CLAREMONT — The new city manager, Ed Morris, will begin work on Sept. 23 at a salary of $122,000 as outlined in a contract approved by the City Council last month.
Morris, 45, who has served as the Weathersfield town manager since 2016, was hired by the council in a unanimous vote in late July. He replaces Ryan McNutt, who served about 23 months before he was fired in January this year in a 7-2 vote by the council. Former Keene City Manager John MacLean has been serving as interim and will continue in that role during a transition period after Morris begins work in city hall.
If his contract is terminated by a majority of the council “without cause,” Morris would be paid 16 weeks’ salary.
Morris also will have 12 months to move to Claremont under the residency requirement per the city charter. Failure to do so will be considered a breach of contract. The council has the right to extend the 12-month period.
Before coming to Vermont, Morris was a professional firefighter in Twin Falls, Idaho, for more than 16 years. He holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Missouri’s Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs. He also served as assistant to the city manager for a year in Jerome, Idaho, population 27,000.
— Patrick O’Grady, Valley News correspondent
