Claremont city manager Nancy Bates resigns after less than a year

Claremont is once again preparing for a change at the top of City Hall, with City Manager Nancy Bates resigning effective later this summer and the exact departure date still to be set. Because Claremont runs under a city council and city manager form of government, the move matters immediately for day-to-day operations, staff oversight and the timing of council decisions that depend on steady administrative leadership.

The Claremont City Council said it will begin discussing how to recruit and select the next city manager. Until that process is underway, the city’s administrative chain of command will remain a central issue for residents, employees and businesses watching budgets, projects and votes that can slow when the top management post is in flux. Bates said she will remain available after leaving to help ensure a smooth transition.

Mayor Dale Girard thanked Bates for her service and said her leadership helped move the city in a positive direction. Her resignation comes less than a year after the council selected her as city manager in December 2025. Before taking the permanent job, Bates had been acting city manager since July 1, 2025, giving her a short but closely watched run in the role at a time when the city was pushing several high-profile initiatives.

Those initiatives included Claremont’s Riverwalk work and redevelopment plans along the Sugar River, two efforts that have been tied to downtown investment and the city’s broader efforts to reinvest in its historic mill district. The city also announced that the sale of 17 Water Street was finalized on December 23, 2025, transferring the property to 1852 MB Claremont LLC. That deal was one of the more visible development steps during Bates’s tenure and remains part of the city’s long-term downtown agenda.

Bates’ departure also follows a turbulent stretch in city management. In April 2025, the previous city manager, Yoshi Manale, was fired by a unanimous City Council vote after about two and a half years in the post. With two managers gone in little more than a year, Claremont faces a renewed test of administrative stability at a moment when municipal projects and public confidence depend on clear leadership from City Hall.