The Select Board has received formal notice from Town Administrator Thatcher W. Kezer III of his intention to retire effective December 31, 2026.
“Thatcher has provided steady leadership during a period of significant challenges and opportunities for our community,” said Select Board Chair Dan Fox in a statement Monday afternoon. “Under his administration, the town has strengthened its financial position, modernized municipal operations, advanced critical infrastructure projects, secured substantial grant funding and improved transparency and public engagement. The Select Board is grateful for his service and his commitment to the town.”
Kezer’s current contract was set to run for an additional 18 months.
“Just retiring 1 1/2 years early,” Kezer texted to the Current. “Any new endeavors I take on will simply be for the fun of it. I’m required to give two months’ notice, but I wanted to make sure Marblehead has more than enough time to through a thorough search process for a successor.”
Kezer started in Marblehead in June of 2022. Before that he worked as chief operating officer for the city of Framingham and mayor of Amesbury.
Last June, he signed a new, three-year contract through June 2028, with a base salary of $218,000.
“Public service is ultimately about leaving an organization stronger than you found it,” Fox said. “Thatcher has helped position Marblehead to meet future challenges and opportunities, and we appreciate his continued commitment to serving the town through the end of the year and assisting with a smooth transition.”
The Select Board will begin discussing the transition process and the recruitment of Marblehead’s next town administrator in the coming months.
Fox told the Current, Kezer’s pay will end Dec. 31 and he is not receiving any kind of early retirement package.
