Practical municipal work.
Real community results.
Learn about current projects and past experience, as well as what communities, municipal leaders, staff, and candidates are saying about our approach and work.
Interactive projects
Randolph, Vermont
Ongoing contracted planning and zoning work, including Town Plan development, community engagement, development administration, and regional partnerships.
Visit Randolph Town Plan →Hartford, Vermont
Rethink Local facilitated Hartford’s 2026 Town Manager recruitment and structured candidate review and interview process.
Recruitment completedRockingham & Bellows Falls, Vermont
Interim municipal management and transition work supporting the Town, Village, boards, staff, and organizational systems.
Learn more →Recent Featured Projects
Interim Municipal Manager
Rockingham & Bellows Falls, Vermont
Rethink Local was hired to provide Interim Manager services to the Town of Rockingham and Village of Bellows Falls during a sensitive leadership transition.
The work included offboarding the outgoing Manager, onboarding the new Manager, working with all three local Boards, and maintaining continuity of day-to-day municipal operations.
Major issues addressed included critical wastewater staffing, personnel and organizational matters, beginning a new capital plan and fee schedule, completing the new municipal website, implementing department head meetings, and improving records retention and public-record access. Watch a clip from Alex’s last Selectboard meeting here on LinkedIn.
One doesn’t expect transformational leadership from an interim manager…but that’s exactly what Alex delivered to our town. He improved many of our systems, thoughtfully yet decisively addressed thorny personnel matters, and developed a capital investment plan, all the while keeping daily business moving along smoothly. I was also impressed by how effectively Alex worked with our select board and village trustees.
Alex did an outstanding job as our Interim Village Manager. He brought immediate stability to all village operations during a critical transition period keeping essential services running seamlessly. He built trust through clear communication, active listening and fostering open dialogue always providing the Board with clear, transparent and timely updates.
As Interim Municipal Manager, Alex brought a level of clarity, professionalism, and forward momentum that made an immediate impact on our municipality. In just a few short months, he identified and offered solutions to challenges that had remained unresolved for years. His leadership provided clear guidance, practical solutions, and a respectful, direct approach that empowered staff and strengthened our work environment.
Wastewater / Utility Recruitment
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
After Rethink Local completed Waterville Valley’s Town Manager search, the Selectboard and staff asked us to return to help address critical vacancies in the Town’s wastewater and utility department.
We helped update job descriptions and postings, filmed a short recruitment video, consulted on departmental staffing and professional development, expanded the posting to new audiences, and engaged organizations including NH DES and GSRWA.
The resulting effort produced viable candidates and helped the Town maintain continuity as it prepares for a major wastewater-facility upgrade.
Alex Torpey and Rethink Local have successfully supported the Town of Waterville Valley through two critical recruitment efforts this past year: the search for a new Town Manager and the hiring of key personnel for our Wastewater Treatment Facility, including a Superintendent.
Their organized, thoughtful, and professional approach not only resulted in multiple successful hires, but also ensured that Town decision makers were well-informed and engaged at every step of the process.
Town Manager Search
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire
Rethink Local was hired to facilitate Waterville Valley’s Town Manager search after prior recruitment activity had not produced a satisfactory group of final candidates.
We reviewed the job description, created a recruitment profile, managed screening and applications, facilitated a three-round interview process, coordinated background checks, and assisted in finalizing an agreement.
The process was completed within the three-month project timeframe.
Rethink Local provided crucial advice, structure, timeliness, and process to our Town’s struggling effort to hire a new Town Manager. Thanks to Alex, we interviewed several highly qualified candidates and recently reached an agreement with one of them for that position.
We were so pleased with this effort that we immediately decided to employ Rethink Local to help us fill other vacant municipal positions.
Hartford, Vermont
Town Manager Recruitment
Rethink Local was hired to run the recruitment for Hartford’s new Town Manager
We designed outreach materials, reviewed more than 30 applications, and completed three rounds of interviews and ran our finalist background check and contract negotiation within our three month project schedule.
Rethink Local provided essential support to Town of Hartford in managing the logistics of our Town Manager search and hiring process. Alex’s approach was thoughtful, creative, and led to meaningful insights about how top candidates would perform in the Town Manager role. By asking candidates to engage with real challenges the Selectboard is currently grappling with, the process was grounded in reality in a helpful way. Alex provided a supportive structure that allowed the Selectboard to focus its energy on making the best possible decision for the Town.
Williamstown, VT
Compensation Study and Pay Scale
Rethink Local was brought in to review internal equity, collect market data, and build a new pay scale for Williamstown, VT.
Moultonborough, NH
Comprehensive Compensation Study and Pay Scale
Rethink Local was awarded a competitive RFP to provide a comphrensive review of Moultonborough’s job titles/descriptions, organizational structure, perform internal equity anaylsis and market data collection, as well as create a new pay scale.
New Boston, New Hampshire
Town Administrator Search & Interim Consultation
Rethink Local provided consultation during the interim period and conducted the search for a new Town Administrator. The process generated more than 20 applications and included four rounds of interviews within three months.
Interim support included weekly meetings, policy and procedure review, drafting assistance, and ongoing support for the administration team.
Alex was a great help in guiding the New Boston Select Board in finding our next Town Administrator. He did all the preliminary work in seeking out qualified candidates and guided not only the candidates, but the Select Board thru the entire interview process. Without the help of Rethink Local, this would have put a monstrous task on the select board. I would highly recommend his services.
His professional guidance and support were invaluable throughout the entire process. From our initial meeting, Alex demonstrated a deep understanding of municipal governance and took the time to understand the specific needs and challenges of our community and tailored his approach accordingly. He listened attentively to our concerns, facilitated constructive conversations, and provided thoughtful, experienced, evidence-based guidance that was always focused on the best interest of the public.
The Select Board was able to make a final hiring decision with confidence knowing it was based on a thorough and fair evaluation. We highly recommend Alex to any municipality for his expertise, integrity, and dedication to serving the public interest.
Westford, Vermont
Town Administrator Search & Consultative Support
Rethink Local was hired to run the recruitment for Westford’s new Town Administrator and assist with offboarding and onboarding.
More than 20 applications, three rounds of interviews, and transition services were completed within three months.
The Westford Selectboard never thought they would be hiring another Town Manager so soon. The departure of our manager was a shock to our small town. They were great at looking at options to help us fill their position in a timely manner. They brought us to Alex, and we are so grateful for this connection. Alex helped lay out a timeline that worked for the town and for Casey Mathieu, Selectboard Chair and Deb Jorschick, Selectboard Member.
Alex did the heavy lifting and brought to us interview candidates that hit all the touch points of a great hire. Without Alex driving the hiring process it would have taken our small town a lot longer to go through this process. In the end we hired a candidate that fit well into our seasoned staffing. We would recommend Alex to anyone looking to hire staff for their town.
“I genuinely appreciated working with you, how you navigated the process, and the different stages of the process themselves were entertaining and felt worthwhile.”
“I am grateful to have been considered and I really enjoyed the process. It was great interviewing with you”
Swanzey, New Hampshire
Interim Town Administrator & Town Administrator Search
Rethink Local provided Interim Town Administrator services in the office approximately two days per week while conducting the search for Swanzey’s new Town Administrator.
The competitive search generated nearly 25 applications and included three interview rounds. The new Town Administrator started within three months of the beginning of the search.
Alex was organized, easy to work with, and kept me informed every step of the way.
From the start you were responsive and thoughtful to my needs as an applicant for the position. It’s nice to have such a valuable resource for our cities and towns.
Having participated in many recruitments, I’m very appreciative of the thorough and welcoming manner in which this process was conducted.
Vermont League of Cities and Towns
Selectboard Onboarding Workshop Design
Rethink Local was contracted by VLCT to design new onboarding workshops for Vermont Selectboards, focused on trust-building, roles and responsibilities, effective meeting facilitation, and skills and values that can help new officials succeed.
Alex has also spoken about this topic at regional and annual International City/County Management Association conferences.
Hartford, Vermont & VLCT
Selectboard Work Planning Workshop
Rethink Local facilitated a workshop with the Hartford Selectboard aimed at developing a plan for the Board’s agenda and work plan based on ongoing projects and priority goals.
Chandler Center for the Arts
Strategic Plan Facilitation & Development
Rethink Local guided the Board of Directors through a strategic planning process that included nearly 200 community touch points and several plans and documents designed to clarify goals, needs, and future direction.
“Our historic arts organization leveled up in a huge way this past year, and it’s in no small part because of Alex Torpey’s insightful pragmatism and strategic cunning.
He showed a rare ability to slice to the core of our collaborative endeavors, revealing what was holding back our massive potential, and setting us up to take the essential next steps ourselves. My instinct tells me that he applies that blend of listening and fortitude to any project lucky enough to have him onboard.”
Enfield, New Hampshire
Compensation & Salary Study
Rethink Local was hired to perform a compensation and salary study comparing existing municipal pay rates with relevant market data from competitive employers.
I was very pleased with the compensation study update Rethink Local completed for the Town of Enfield last year. The data was very relevant and completed in a very timely manner. The Town was able to use the data to compare and ensure fair wages for our DPW staff.
Randolph, Vermont
Land Use & Zoning Administration
In a partnership that may serve as a model for other communities, Rethink Local was hired to provide zoning and planning services, participate in economic and community development, and develop new shared services and regional partnerships.
Municipal work rarely fits neatly into a box.
If your community is facing a recruitment, leadership transition, planning challenge, organizational issue, or project that simply needs additional capacity, we’d be happy to talk through it.