Newport  — Former Hartford Town Manager Hunter Rieseberg, who has served as interim town manager in Newport since October, has been hired for the permanent position by the Selectboard.

Rieseberg was officially named town manager in a 5-0 vote by the Newport Selectboard on Monday night.

Board Chairman Jeff Kessler said the board began to think about hiring Rieseberg as town manager instead of initiating another search based on community feedback.

“It was based on what we were hearing from staff, members of the community, pretty much everyone he worked with,” Kessler said. “He was interested in what they were doing and he was very approachable. Just about everyone we spoke to had nothing but good things to say about him.”

Kessler said the board also likes that Rieseberg has a lot of experience — he was town manager for 20 years in Hartford and has previously worked in Hampton, N.H., and other New Hampshire towns

“We have found he is very proactive and he knows what needs to be done,” Kessler said.

Shane O’Keefe, Newport’s most recent town manager, was hired in July 2015 but resigned abruptly in September for what have been called “personal reasons.” When Rieseberg was hired in mid-October, it was to be for a period of between six and 12 months, according to his agreement.

Rieseberg, 60, will continue to live in Hanover. He stepped down as town manager in Hartford in August 2015.

In Newport, he received a contract through June 30, 2019, with a salary of $115,000 plus benefits and five weeks vacation. The salary can be renegotiated after June 30, 2018, Kessler said. There is a six-month probationary period retroactive to when Rieseberg was hired in October. Though he didn’t have the specific contract before him, Kessler said there is “standard” language that gives “either side the opportunity” to part ways.

As someone who has lived in the area for years, Rieseberg said he is well-acquainted with the challenges facing Newport, including repairing and rebuilding an aging infrastructure in a less than robust economy. Nevertheless, he said, he likes what he has experienced so far.

“Newport is a great a community with passion and spirit and a love of community that has served it well. I feel lucky to be a part of it,” he said.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.

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