This story by Carla Occaso was first published by The Montpelier Bridge on Feb. 12.
The Montpelier City Council has decided against renewing City Manager Bill Fraser’s contract on Feb. 12 after 30 years on the job. He was hired to serve as city manager in 1995.
The parliamentary action started right out of the gate with councilor Tim Heney moving immediately to terminate Fraser’s contract, with a quick second coming from Councilor Adrienne Gil. But Councilor Cary Brown asked to put on the brakes, saying she did not feel comfortable voting before discussing the matter in executive session.
The question to be discussed was whether to renew, extend or terminate Fraser’s contract, according to Mayor Jack McCullough. Additionally, McCullough said they would discuss the terms of separation if one were to take place. Attorneys were present to advise the council about the city’s “obligation to city manager,” McCullough added.
Lawyer Ed Adrian spoke up to introduce himself and offer to help the City Council “say the magic words” if they go into executive session. He did not explain what, exactly, the “magic words” were that he was referring to.
He also said he had been retained to work with the town’s usual attorneys to review this matter. Adrian works for the Burlington-based law firm Monoghan, Safar, and Ducham.
With that, Brown moved to table the motion to not renew Fraser’s contract, which was seconded and approved, leading to more than two hours of secret discussion. When they came back into public session, Heney withdrew his motion, and Councilor Sal Alfano made a motion to not renew the city manager’s contract and to direct the mayor to draft a separation agreement that addresses severance pay and other matters as required by law.
Following the motion, McCullough opened the meeting to public input. Resident Steve Whitaker suggested somehow capturing Fraser’s 30 years of knowledge to pass on to the new city manager because “Bill has a wealth of information,” and Whitaker would like that “intellectual property” preserved.
Anthony Iarrapino spoke next, saying the city manager’s job is the most important in the city and that the future of the city would be best achieved by having new leadership. Problems in Montpelier include lack of housing, crumbling streets and sidewalks, lack of flood resiliency, affordability, and environmental problems, he said.
Peter Kelman said 30 years of Fraser being city manager is enough, and that a new, younger person in the role would fit the bill to fix the problems of Montpelier.
McCullough then called the vote, during which it appeared to be unanimous to not renew the contract.
Irrapino spoke again, saying he felt the City Council wrongly discussed the city manager’s contract in executive session since the manager himself was involved in talks. How could such talks cause a disadvantage to the city if the manager himself attended? Iarrapino asked.
“The only one who was at a disadvantage was members of the public who heard a 30-second vote without discussion,” he said.
Fraser spoke next, saying he accepts the decision made by the council to terminate his contract, even though it was distressing.
“I find myself filled with gratitude for serving as city manager for 30 years,” he said, describing how he had worked with 52 council members and mayors during a mostly productive tenure. He also praised his “capable team” of city service members and staff.
After some talk about the breadth of the city manager’s job, Fraser expressed gratitude for his family — wife Anne, and children Olivia, Patrick, Claire and Angus. He said he owns a home in Montpelier and his children attended the “excellent” Montpelier schools.
“I love you, honey,” he said to Anne, and later added, “I love this city.” He then said it was his goal to leave the city greater than he found it, and that when he leaves, on his last day, he will hold his head high.
McCullough then spoke in support of Fraser. Calling the decision to end his agreement “misguided.” McCullough said Fraser provided “outstanding and ethical guidance” during his tenure.
Fraser was not only recognized by city staff and department heads, but also by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. “We have benefited greatly by having Bill as our city manager, and I wish this had come out a different way,” McCullough said.
Fraser’s tenure included dealing with the flooding and devastation of Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the damaging floods of 2023 and 2024, and other crises such as the aging infrastructure in Montpelier causing frequent water main breaks, PFAS pollution, a surge in homelessness cresting this year and a general housing shortage.
Fraser has also experienced ups and downs with his relationship with the city’s mayors and city councils. The City Council and then-Mayor John Hollar recognized Fraser in March 2015 at his 20-year anniversary as city manager, according to a March 14, 2015, article in the Times Argus.
Hollar said Fraser is the longest serving city manager in Montpelier’s history and commended him on his dedication to the community — calling it unmatched. Hollar also said one of the most important benefits Fraser gave to the community was stability and a deep understanding of how the city works. Additionally, Hollar further told the Argus he appreciated how Fraser had consistent leadership and brought in predictable budgets each year.
But a year later, Hollar joined a group of council members voting to terminate Fraser’s employment, citing a need for new leadership, but without stating what Fraser had done wrong. At that time, Hollar said Fraser “has not done anything that would lead to an immediate termination, ‘but the general view by the city council was that the city could benefit from new executive leadership,’” according to an Oct. 27, 2016, VTDigger article.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Montpelier City Council votes to not renew City Manager Bill Fraser’s contract .