Yennerell takes Springfield manager oath

Thomas L. Yennerell took the oath of office to be Springfield's new town manager Monday morning.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20141118/NEWS02/711189900

Town clerk Barbara Courchesne swears in Thomas Yennerell as the new town manager during a brief ceremony in Springfield. Photo: Photo by Len EmeryPublished November 18, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Yennerell takes Springfield manager oath By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Thomas L. Yennerell was sworn in as Springfield’s new town manager first thing Monday morning with a small gathering of town officials and town employees on hand as witnesses. Yennerell, 61, of Lebanon, N.H., promised to be “true and faithful to the state of Vermont,” and that he would not “directly or indirectly, do any act or thing injurious to the constitution or government thereof.” Town Clerk Barbara Courchesne administered the two brief oaths, or “affirmations,” the first to the state and the second to Springfield. Yennerell pledged to “faithfully execute the office of town manager for the town of Springfield and will therein do equal right and justice to all persons, to the best of my judgment and ability, according to law.” Select Board Chairman Kristi Morris welcomed Yennerell to the town, and said he hoped Yennerell’s tenure would be “long and prosperous.” “It’s a pleasure being here,” Yennerell said. After the formalities, as people shared coffee and muffins, Yennerell said his first priority was working with former Town Manager Robert Forguites on the new budget, which will likely go to the Select Board and the Budget Committee next month. Yennerell, no stranger to Vermont town budget realities, said that he was glad Forguites was staying for a period to help with the transition. He said meeting the town employees and department heads was a top priority. “I have some ideas, and I hope to do something by the end of the week,” he said. Yennerell has been a town manager in small towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Colorado, and he said that he was thrilled to come back to Vermont and be given the job of managing a town the size of Springfield, population 9,400. Yennerell left West Rutland in 2007 for a job in southwestern Colorado, which he said had been one of his dreams in life. But, he said, he missed Vermont too much, and back he came. Morris said Yennerell’s experience working in Colorado in economic development “jumped off the page” when the town officials were reviewing the dozens of resumes. He said Yennerell would bring “a fresh perspective” on the problems facing the town, including rebuilding the local economy, and countering the recent increase in drug-related crime. Forguites, in his last official act before Yennerell took the oath of office, told the assembled department heads who were on hand that their budgets were due on Friday, to groans from Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston. It was hard to tell who was happier, Yennerell or Forguites, who at 75 is embarking on a new career as a politician. He was elected to represent the Vermont House earlier this month, and he heads to Montpelier later this week for meetings and orientation. The first topic, he said, is the state budget deficit, or revenue shortfall, depending on how you look at it. Select Board member David Yesman wished Forguites a “long and happy retirement.” “We’ll be in touch,” said Morris. Yennerell, who by town charter must live in Springfield, has so far been unable to find a house in his price range. “All the real estate agents know what we’re looking for,” he said.