WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hartford Selectboard announced on Friday that Town Manager Tracy Yarlott-Davis has been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately, while the board discusses “her future as town manager.”

“We know that this news is unexpected and may come as a shock to all of you,” the board stated in a letter to town employees on Friday. “We will do our best to ensure that town operations are not impeded during this period.”

Town Human Resources Director Paula Nulty and Finance Director Gail Ostrout will oversee the town’s day-to-day operations until the Selectboard appoints an interim town manager.

Yarlott-Davis, a former auditor from Oakland, Calif., took over as the permanent town manager in February 2021, nearly a year after the resignation of her predecessor, Brannon Godfrey. She was Hartford’s first female town manager.

Selectboard Chairman Michael Hoyt told the Valley News that he has no comment at this time, though the board will likely have more information for the public next week. The board has scheduled a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday to hold a nonpublic executive session, which Vermont statute permits for the purpose of discussing “the employment, appointment or evaluation of a public officer or employee.”

In the letter to employees, the Selectboard thanked Yarlott-Davis “for the work she’s done for the town” and “wished her the best going forward.” The board also thanked the town employees for their continuing work for the town, while promising to support the employees “during the transition.”

Yarlott-Davis’ tenure as town manager has coincided with challenges, including the pandemic and a turnover in Selectboard members. Only two of the seven current Selectboard members were involved in her selection, and Yarlott-Davis did not receive her first performance evaluation until last August, 18 months into her hire, which officials attributed to the pandemic and instability on the Selectboard at the time.

Yarlott-Davis appears to have updated her LinkedIn profile to show that her employment as Hartford town manager ended in “October 2022.”

The Valley News attempted to reach Yarlott-Davis by phone but did not receive a response by deadline.

Patrick Adrian may be reached at 603-727-3216 or at padrian@vnews.com.

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