Montpelier City Council Announces Kelly McNicholas Kury Will Be Montpelier’s Next City Manager

Press Release
January 11, 2026

MONTPELIER, VT—The Montpelier City Council has selected Kelly McNicholas Kury of Pitkin County, Colorado, to become the next City Manager of the City of Montpelier with a start date of February 17, 2026. Following a robust national recruitment process, the Montpelier City Council will formally approve her employment agreement on Wednesday, January 14.

As the chief administrative officer for Vermont’s Capital City, Kelly McNicholas Kury will lead a team of approximately 110 employees spread across nine departments. Appointed by the City Council, the City Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city, advising the Council on public policy, and ensuring that these policies are implemented professionally.

“Kelly McNicholas Kury brings a rare combination of strategic leadership, fiscal expertise, and deep commitment to community engagement,” said Mayor Jack McCullough. “Her experience managing complex organizations and delivering results on critical issues such as housing, infrastructure, and economic resilience makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead Montpelier into its next chapter.”

A seasoned local government and public administration professional, McNicholas Kury brings more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning, fiscal stewardship, and community engagement, including 12 years in city and county government. Known for building trust-based relationships and translating public vision into measurable outcomes, she has played a central role in strengthening transparent, resilient, and forward-looking public institutions.

“I am honored and excited to serve as Montpelier’s next City Manager at such a pivotal time,” said McNicholas Kury. “I look forward to advancing the priorities of the Council, staff, and community—including affordable housing, infrastructure, and economic vitality—so that together we can strengthen Montpelier now and into the future.”

Since joining Pitkin County, Colorado in 2013, McNicholas Kury has steadily advanced into senior leadership roles and currently serves as County Commissioner and Chairwoman of the Board of County Commissioners. In this role, she provides strategic oversight of a $258 million annual budget, managing 375 employees across 27 departments, while aligning fiscal decisions with long-term strategic goals and statutory responsibilities.

As a County Commissioner, she has helped lead transformative initiatives, including development of a $1 billion, 30-year contract for the Aspen–Pitkin County Airport, passage and implementation of a $250 million affordable housing property tax, and advancement of policies addressing housing, childcare, climate resilience, public safety, infrastructure, land use, water resources, and economic resiliency.

Previously, McNicholas Kury served in the Pitkin County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, rising to Elections Department Manager, where she modernized election systems, ensured legal compliance, and strengthened transparency and public confidence through bipartisan collaboration.

In addition to her elected service, she serves as Executive Director of the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation, overseeing a $3 million budget focused on affordable housing preservation and infrastructure, including grant acquisition and construction project management.

McNicholas Kury holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Cal Poly Humboldt. She is completing her Certified Public Manager credential through the University of Colorado Denver, with accreditation expected in Spring 2026.