Gray’s town manager is resigning after two years on the job.

Michael Foley took on the role in January of 2024. On Tuesday, the Town Council passed a motion to authorize a “separation agreement” between Foley and the town, replacing him on an interim basis with Denise Clavette, the town’s economic development director.

In his resignation letter, Foley, who previously served as Mayor of Westbrook, recalled how he had worked together with the Town Council to advance Gray’s Village Transformation Project, as well as establishing the Economic Development Department to help implement the town’s comprehensive plan.

He said that the Town Council was “charting a different direction for the town’s future”, and now was an appropriate time for him to pursue new professional opportunities that “align with (his) leadership values and goals.”

Foley said in his resignation letter that he will help with the completion of outstanding projects and assisting the town in any way necessary to ensure a smooth transition.

“It has been a true privilege to serve the people of Gray and to work alongside an exceptional team of professionals dedicated to public service,” wrote Foley. “I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity and wish the Town continued success in the years ahead.”

The Town Council meeting, which Foley did not attend in-person, saw several residents give their opinion on the leadership transition. Fran Monroe recalled how, during previous transitions, there was a committee to search for a new town manager, and suggested that, with Foley having been the second town manager in recent years to step down after a tenure of less than three years, it would be beneficial for the town to form a search committee.

While the Town Council voted unanimously to accept the separation agreement, Councilor Anne Gass voted against accepting Clavette as the new town manager. Gass later said that, while she had full confidence in Clavette’s ability to serve as interim town manager, she was unhappy with the process of choosing a new manager, and said that she thought the council should have taken a little more time and opened it up to other people.

When asked about her thoughts on accepting the responsibility of being interim town manager, Clavette said, “I think it’s a great opportunity to stabilize. This is a reset button, an opportunity to take stock in what happened, and to get a clearer understanding of what the council’s goals and objectives are moving forward.”