Keene City Manager Elizabeth Ferland to Leave for Claremont Post in 2027

Claremont announced her hiring in a press release and pointed to her experience in administration, economic development, budgeting and public engagement.

Elizabeth Ferland will soon end her nine-year tenure as Keene’s city manager and move to Claremont, where she has been chosen to lead that city’s government. Her start date is expected in late February 2027, after a 90-day notice period in Keene that is meant to support a smooth handoff.

Her move marks another step in a municipal career that has now stretched across 28 years in New Hampshire. In Keene, Ferland has overseen a city organization with more than 300 employees and an operating budget of over $80 million.

During her time in Keene, she was central to several major efforts, including infrastructure work, technology upgrades and renewable energy projects. One of the most visible is the 5-megawatt solar facility under construction at Keene Municipal Airport. The city also launched New Hampshire’s first Community Power program while she was in office, giving residents an additional electricity choice.

Ferland also pushed for broader public access to city information through Keene in Focus, a podcast designed to explain municipal work, ongoing projects and local decision-making in clearer terms.

Before coming to Keene, Ferland spent nine years as city manager in Franklin, eight years in Plymouth and two years in Bristol. Her background is in accounting and municipal finance, and her career has emphasized fiscal discipline, cooperation and planning for the long term.

Claremont announced her hiring in a press release and pointed to her experience in administration, economic development, budgeting and public engagement. Mayor Dale Girard, speaking for the City Council, said her record and public service background made her a strong fit for the role.

Ferland said she is looking forward to the new job and noted her connections to Claremont as well as her interest in working with city leaders, staff, residents and businesses.