Recruitments and projects

Randolph Planning and Zoning

Hartford, Vermont

Rockingham and Bellows Falls

Rethink Local was hired to provide Interim Manager services to the Town of Rockingham and Village of Bellows Falls.

This included offboarding the outgoing Manager, onboarding the new Manager, working with all three local Boards, and providing a wide array of support during this sensitive transition time. Key issues were identified and addressed successfully during this period, including critical staffing at the Wastewater facility, a number of other personnel and organizational issues, identifying and beginning a new Capital Plan as well as fee schedule, completing the new website, and dozens of smaller policy and process updates and changes, such as implementing department head meetings, improving records retention and public records request access, and more.

What are people saying?

Watch a clip of Alex’s last Selectboard meeting here.

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. 

-Rick Cowan, Select Board Chair, Rockingham, VT

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.

– Paul J. Obuchowski, Village President/Trustee Chair, Bellows Falls, VT

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.

– Heather Hitchcock, Personnel Resource Manager, Rockingham, VT

After Rethink Local completed the Town Manager search for Waterville Valley, the Selectboard and staff asked us to come back and help with a set of critical vacancies in the Town’s wastewater/utility department. This is notoriously one of the hardest positions to hire for currently.

We helped update the job descriptions and postings, filmed a short recruitment video, consulted on departmental staffing levels and updated professional development plans, pushed out the posting to new audiences, and engaged with key stakeholders such as NH DES and GSRWA. The resulting efforts produced viable candidates and will help the Town retain continuity and be setup for growth with their upcoming major wastewater facility upgrade.

What are people saying?

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.

– Steve Royer, Assistant Town Manager, Waterville Valley, NH

Rethink Local was hired to facilitate a Town Manager search for Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. The Town had engaged in recruitment activities on their own but not been successful in identifying a group of final candidates.

We were brought in to review the job description, create a recruitment profile, run the screening, three-round interview, and application process, facilitate background checks, and help finalize an agreement. This was accomplished within the three-month timeframe.

What are people saying?

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.

– Richard Rita, Select Board Chair, Waterville Valley, NH

Rethink Local was hired to provide consultation services during the Interim period, and run the search for a new Town Administrator for New Boston, New Hampshire, with over 20 applications and four rounds of interviews in three months.

For consultative services, we held weekly meetings, reviewed and drafted policies and procedures and provided the administration team with key support during the interim and transition periods.

What are people saying?

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.

– Bill McFadden, New Boston Select Board Chair

Alex was retained to assist the with the recruitment and selection of our new Town Administrator. 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.

– Kary Jencks, Selectboard member and TA hiring committee

Rethink Local was hired to run the recruitment for Westford’s new Town Administrator, and assist with offboarding and onboarding.

Over 20 applications, three rounds of thoughtful interviews, and transition services completed within three months of start.

What are people saying?

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.

– Westford, VT Selectboard

“I genuinely appreciated working with you, how you navigated the process, and the different stages of the process themselves were entertaining and felt worthwhile.”

– Westford TA Finalist

“I am grateful to have been considered and I really enjoyed the process. It was great interviewing with you”

– Westford TA Candidate

Rethink Local was hired to provide Interim Town Administrator services (in office ~ two days/week) for three months during the search for Swanzey’s New Town Administrator.

Swanzey’s competitive search with nearly 25 applications and three rounds of interviews finished fully start to finish with the new TA starting within three months of beginning the search.

What are people saying?

Alex was organized, easy to work with, and kept me informed every step of the way. 


– Swanzey TA Finalist

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.

– Swanzey TA Finalist

Having participated in many recruitments, I’m very appreciative of the thorough and welcoming manner in which this process was conducted.


– Swanzey TA Finalist

Rethink Local was contracted by VLCT to design new onboarding workshops for VLCT to offer to towns in Vermont that help onboard new Selectboard members, and focuses on trust-building, roles/responsibilities, effective meeting facilitation, and more skills and values that can help Selectboard’s and new officials be effective in their positions.

Alex has also spoken about this topic at several regional and annual International City/County Management conferences

Rethink Local facilitated a workshop with the Hartford, VT Selectboard aimed at developing a plan for their Board’s agenda and work plan, based on prioritizing a compilation of information from ongoing projects and most important key goals.

Rethink Local was hired to walk the Board of Directors through a strategic planning process that included nearly 200 community touch points, and several different plans and documents that helped flesh out goals, needs, and plans that can enable the Board to chart a successful future for this important local arts institution.

What are people saying?

“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.”

– Ben Rapson, Chandler Board of Directors Vice President

Rethink Local Was hired to perform a compensation and salary study for Enfield, New Hampshire, comparing existing pay rates to market data from competitive employers.

What are people saying?

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.

– Ed Morris, Enfield NH Town Manager

In a unique partnership that may serve as a model for other communities, Rethink Local was hired to provide zoning/planning services, as well as participate in economic/community development and develop new shared services and regional partnerships.