News 7 caught up with recently resigned Town Manager, Mike Welch, of St. Johnsbury's to ask him what will be the next chapter in his life.

After years of running the ship in St. Johnsbury, Mike Welch, has decided to persue another career. But he will never forget his job that he held for so many years.

"The role of a town manager in a community in St. Johnsbury is to really operate the day to day operation of the communities so your kind of supervising all the departments and all of the different projects that are going on."

The position as town manager involves jobs both big and small. One of those issues involved the development of the town.

"Developing budgets risk management personnel administration so it's kind of like a general manger for any business."

These are jobs that Mike Welch has been doing for the past 10 years and he has been doing them well. Welch feels now is the right time for him to move on.

"Well I think it's just a good time for me there is an opportunity that has presented itself this seems to be a good fit for me so I look forward to still being in this area and hopefully continue to be an asset if I can to the Northeast Kingdom."

Welch says he will be working at Northern Community Development as the director of economic development for the Northeast Kingdom. The organization is based in St. Johnsbury.

When it comes to projects Welch has completed for the town he is very modest.

"It really isn't me or a manager that makes it happen it's the people here that make it happen the people in the community. The volunteers and the employees and I think a lot has been accomplished but it hasn't been the result of anything I've done."

Welch says he has many fond memories when working as town manager and wishes the best of luck to the new guy. Welch will be leaving his job May 7^th of this year. St. Johnsbury is accepting new applications for the position of town manager. They are currently using the VLCT (Vermont League of Cities and Towns) to help them find an interim manager and then permanently fill the position.

 

 

Previous stories on Mike Welch's Resignation:

St. Johnbury Town Manager Resigns (April 14th 2010)

A Respected Town Manager Will Resign (April 12th 2010)