Manager search begins in Paris
PARIS — Selectmen voted Thursday to begin a search for a new town manager.
The board approved a motion by Selectman Troy Ripley to advertise the position. Ripley also asked that the selectmen individually review applications every Friday and schedule board interviews for the following week if any selectman wants to interview an applicant.
Michael Thorne, a former town manager of Raymond and Harrison, has been serving as the interim manager in Paris since July. He said he plans to retire on Feb. 1 and will not seek full-time appointment.
Thorne said he requested that the board hire a town manager so they will be able to assist with putting together a municipal budget.
Selectman Raymond Glover suggested that the position be advertised through the Maine Municipal Association's monthly magazine, Maine Townsman, as well as its Web site.
Thorne said the position should also be advertised elsewhere.
The board also took up the question of whether to ratify the June decision to terminate former Town Manager Sharon Jackson's employment contract. The vote then was 3-2.
"I move that we ratify the action taken at our June 22, 2009, meeting to terminate the manager's contract without cause," said Ripley, reading a recommendation from town attorney Geoffrey Hole.
Selectmen approved the ratification in a 3-1 vote, with Glover opposed. Selectman Lloyd "Skip" Herrick was absent.
"I just want it to be known that I was opposed to the original action, and I'm opposed to this action, and I'm voting no," Glover said.
Chairman David Ivey said the move to ratify was not based on an appeal filed in the Oxford County Superior Court in which Jackson asks the court to declare that her contract is still in effect. The lawsuit alleges in part that Ripley should not have been seated on the board until July 1 and his vote was invalid.
"It's just a housekeeping thing," Ivey said.
Ivey said the special meeting was scheduled because the board had failed to set a date for a meeting next week, which includes the Columbus Day holiday on the day the meeting would otherwise have taken place. The next selectmen's meeting will occur Oct. 26.
news4u says
Have you noticed who has been sitting in the back row at the last few selectmen meetings? If not, just view the DVDs of the Paris Selectmens meetings. It's Steve McAlister. He was the town manager of Paris before Sharon Jackson. Wonder what his interest is in the town of Paris?!? Bucking for his old job back?!? I'm sure the 3 stooges have already considered him for the position. Why else would he be attending these meetings? He lives in Oxford now. When he left the position it took Sharon months to fix all of his financial blunders.