"After a thorough and thoughtful process, we have reached a decision on who will succeed Don Turner as our next Town Manager. This is a role we never expected to fill so soon, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the profound loss our community has experienced over the past year. Don’s passing left a void not only in our town government but in the heart of Milton itself.

"From the outset, the board recognized that Don could never truly be replaced. Our goal was to find someone who shared his deep commitment to public service and his passion for Milton. We believed the best path forward was to look within—to find a candidate who already understood the challenges we face, the progress we’ve made, and the vision we hold for our town’s future.

"That vision has remained consistent: to build a welcoming, vibrant community where public safety, infrastructure, and essential services are delivered with excellence and fiscal responsibility. We’ve also made economic development a priority, ensuring Milton continues to grow and thrive.

"Some have questioned whether we should have conducted a broader search, bringing in someone with no prior ties to Milton. Ironically, many of those same voices praised Don as an exceptional Town Manager and agreed he was irreplaceable. Once people understood that the Town Manager’s role is to carry out the board’s vision—not to set it—many came to support our decision to focus on internal candidates. As a board, we knew we couldn’t afford the time or risk involved in training and relocating someone unfamiliar with our community.

"Throughout this process, each of us has received countless calls, emails, and personal messages from residents. The overwhelming sentiment was not opposition to any candidate, but strong support for Chris Taylor. I want to thank everyone who reached out to share their thoughts and perspectives. I also want to express my gratitude to all four candidates—each of whom brought dedication and talent to the table. Any one of them would have served Milton well, and I know they will continue to do so in their current and future roles. In fact, during the process, each candidate expressed that if they weren’t selected, they hoped Chris would be. That speaks volumes about their character and about Chris’s readiness to lead.

"With the board’s vote to enter negotiations, Chris will be required to resign from the Selectboard. Per our charter, the board will appoint an eligible individual to fill the vacancy until the next legally warned annual meeting. Since Chris submitted his application, he has not been involved in the selection process. As Chris also serves in the state legislature, the board will vote on whether we wish for him to continue in that role following the outcome of negotiations.

"We are hopeful that Chris will officially step into the Town Manager role in the coming weeks. Please join me in congratulating him on this new chapter. I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our entire staff—especially John Bartlett and Amber Baker—for their outstanding leadership and dedication over the past 10 months. You’ve shown that nothing will deter us from 'getting stuff done' for Milton."

Darren Adams
Milton Selectboard Chairman

Update 07/01/2025: 

• Employment Agreement for Town Manager - Chris Taylor
• Selectboard Meeting Minutes 05/19/2025 - Town Manager Selection Announced
• Selectboard Meeting Minutes 06/23/2025 - Contract Offered