Franklin City Manager Judie Milner abruptly resigned Thursday, giving a one-day notice before she left her position.

The decision brings an end to nearly two decades at the helm of administrative affairs in the state’s smallest city.

The reason for the sudden departure remained murky as city officials remained tight-lipped or declined to comment. Attorney Mark Broth at Drummond Woodsum, who represents the city, said the council and Milner have been in ongoing discussions regarding her resignation. 

Broth prepared a press release for Mayor Desiree McLaughlin on Thursday afternoon. 

“The City Council thanks Ms. Milner for her long service to the community and wishes her well in her future endeavors,” the statement reads.

Milner’s departure comes two years into a five-year contract, which was set to expire on June 30, 2028. She previously served as the finance director for the city as well. 

In March of 2023, the city council voted to renew her contract at an annual salary of $131,040. 

The contract states that in the event Milner were to voluntarily resign from her position, she would have to give 60 days' notice in advance. In the event of early termination by the city, Milner would receive a severance pay of six months of her salary and all accrued benefits like vacation and sick time. 

According to Broth, discussions are still ongoing about her departure from the city. He said he did not have a resignation letter from Milner as of Friday. The city hopes to resolve the matter as soon as possible, he added. 

Milner retained an attorney to represent her, according to email communication between McLaughlin and Broth. Milner notified city department heads this week she would be leaving her job on Friday, McLaughlin told Broth in an email.

Additionally, Broth said Friday that he did not have a formal letter of resignation from Milner.

Both Milner and McLaughlin declined to comment. 

The city contracted with Scott Clarenbach, the former longstanding fire chief in Franklin, to serve as the acting city manager while a search is underway for a permanent replacement. 

Clarenbach previously served on the city council in Franklin, including a stint as interim mayor in 2017, after five-term mayor Ken Merrifield was named the commissioner for the New Hampshire Department of Labor.

For Delaney Carrier, a Ward 1 councilor who was elected in the fall, city business will continue as normal – with Clarenbach’s long-term experience in city  departments as an asset, he said.

“All I want to be sure of is that the work we have going on in Franklin continues to take place,” said Carrier. “We continue to move forward.” 

A number of councilors, including Thomas Boyce, Leigh Webb, Olivia Zink and Ed Prive, declined to comment publicly on the matter or directed questions to Broth. 

During Milner’s tenure as city manager, downtown Franklin underwent a substantial revitalization with the introduction of Mill City Park, a white water rafting destination with recreational trails along the Winnipesaukee River. 

Milner cited the project – which opened in 2022 – as a necessary investment for the city to recover from its economic downfall after paper mills closed and businesses shuttered. The park became divisive in the community – with some residents opposing public investments into the nonprofit, fearing that doing so may increase property taxes. 

In 2023, the city’s economic development team, which included Milner, talked about a $20 million bond to finance portions of the water park and other city projects. The proposal was never brought to the city council after droves of residents, including McLaughlin, voiced their opposition. 

While Milner has celebrated new businesses downtown, one Central Street restaurant has also been the center of controversy.

Miriam Kovacs, who owns the Broken Spoon restaurant, sued the city in 2023, accusing its leaders – including Milner who is named as a defendant –  of failing to protect her in the wake of attacks  from NCS-131, a neo-Nazi group in New Eng land

The case is set to go to trial, after the city of Franklin rejected a settlement offer from Kovacs that would have covered the cost of her legal fees and instituted several reforms at the police department and  in city government. 

The council will meet for their monthly meeting on Monday, March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Lodge of Elks.