GREAT BARRINGTON -- Departing Great Barrington Town Manager Mark Pruhenski is heading north to Middlebury, Vt.
The longtime town leader announced Wednesday that he'll leave his Great Barrington post in January, but he did not offer details on where he was heading next. On Thursday, the town of Middlebury announced in a news release that he has been selected as its next town manager.
He is expected to start his new job on Jan. 15.
"During the various interviews, Mark distinguished himself with thoughtful answers which reflected both his experience working within similar communities, his homework on Middlebury, and practical leadership in addressing challenges like our community faces," Middlebury Select Board Chair Brian Carpenter said in the statement.
"He was the unanimous choice following an engaging recruitment and thorough review of all applicants."
South Berkshires Great Barrington Town Manager Mark Pruhenski to leave in January for a new career 'challenge' By Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle 1 min to read
Pruhenski will fill a vacancy in Middlebury left by Kathleen Ramsay, who stepped down from the position in September after a 12-year tenure. Former Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley has been serving as acting town manager since Sept. 23.
In a Wednesday statement, Pruhenski said that it is "with mixed-emotions" that he is stepping down from his Great Barrington post.
"It's been an honor to serve my hometown for the last five-plus years as the town manager," Pruhenski wrote, "but it's time for a new chapter in my life, and a new challenge in my career."
That challenge will take place in Middlebury, a town with just over 9,000 people in Addison County, Vt.
Meanwhile, the Great Barrington Select Board will discuss finding Pruhenski's replacement at an upcoming meeting, in addition to working "to ensure a seamless transition in the new year."
Pruhenski started working for the town in 2005 as Health Agent and "in other various roles until 2015." He returned in 2019 after he was hired to be town manager.
He previously worked as town administrator for Richmond, and before that, held the same post in Whately, according to prior Eagle reporting.