Pembroke Town Administrator Geoff Ruggles is leaving his post for a different municipal job in Gilford.

The town is currently taking applications for the soon-to-be-empty position.

Ruggles, who lives in Gilford, said he took the finance director job in Gilford to be closer to home and family, adding the pay is about the same as he is currently making in Pembroke.

“It’s a hop, skip and a jump to Town Hall” from his home, said Ruggles.

Ruggles called selectmen on June 27, he said, to notify them of his resignation. It was made official at a special meeting the selectmen called on Monday, June 30.

Ruggles has been working as Pembroke’s permanent town administrator since December, having spent three months on an interim basis before that, taking over for the prior town administrator, Troy Brown.

He has been working in different positions for municipalities for 15 years, he said. His last day is Friday, July 18.

“It’s a great place to work. The people have been very supportive and very easy to get along with and work with, and it’s really just been a great experience,” said Ruggles about Pembroke’s Town Hall employees as well as its residents. “I know that sounds so (trite), but it’s true.”

The town has posted ads in newspapers, at Local Government Center and other places online to advertise for the job, said Selectman Larry Preston. Preston acknowledged that, in his five years on the Board of Selectmen, he has seen a tremendous turnover in town office employees.

This is the first time he feels such a profound sense of loss of one, he said.

“He’s going to be sorely missed by everybody,” said Preston. “The selectmen did everything but break his legs to get him to stay,” he half-joked. Preston added Ruggles put in long hours at the town offices, was extremely organized and knowledgeable and spent a long time learning the ins and outs of the community.

The town looked to the Local Government Center for help in covering Ruggles’ duties. Through LGC’s back-up service, the town was able to secure a temporary replacement, Carroll Murray, to “step in and keep the ship together,” Preston said. “We wish him luck,” Preston said.