NEW GLOUCESTER – Town Manager William Cooper tendered his resignation Monday, citing personal reasons and family considerations. He plans to step down when a replacement is named, he said.

Cooper, 57, has served the town for the past 14 years and worked with 18 different selectmen.

In recent months, he challenged the five-member Board of Selectmen to make a decision on his employment and his credibility when a dispute arose regarding a Fire Chief Search Committee formed by the board.

Selectmen passed over an ordinance provision that the town manager conduct interviews and make a recommendation to selectmen.

A Fire Department Ordinance approved by voters this spring spells out the town manager’s role in hiring and firing.

Cooper said he is proud of keeping the municipal tax rate stable since he began his duties in 1989. At that time the town had a fund balance of $10,000 and borrowed heavily in anticipation of taxes.

“I leave in the knowledge that based on policy decisions made by the selectmen, votes at town meetings and the very hard work of all the town employees that New Gloucester is one of the financially strongest municipalities in Maine,” he said.

Board Chairman Steve Libby spoke about Cooper’s accomplishments over the years.

“I was one of the original five selectmen that hired Bill and couldn’t have asked for anyone more dedicated and committed to New Gloucester. I knew I could always count on Bill,” Libby said.

Under Cooper’s management the town has a new library, a Meeting House, a fire station addition, an expanded town garage, town hall upgrades, and a Capital Improvement Plan. And, the fiscal year changed to July 1-June 30. The town now employs a full-time planner and assessor. The Pineland Redevelopment plan is complete with a Tax Increment Financing Policy for Pineland that shelters taxes paid by October Corp. to be used for costs incurred by the impact of that development.

“Bill’s first municipal budget had a tax rate of $5.14 per $1,000 and this year’s proposed rate is $4.65 per thousand,” Libby said.

Cooper said the 70- to 80-hour work weeks over a span of 25 years takes its toll.

He said he started thinking about leaving last summer after a death in his family. He plans to spend more time with his wife, Cathy, travel and relax. He and his wife also plan to move to a nearby town next year, he said.

Before being manager for New Gloucester he was town manager of Farmington, N.H. A former flight instructor, he holds a master’s degree in administration.

“I will stay until the process is complete, and it takes time. Leaving a town with no manager is tough,” Cooper said.

The board will use the Maine Municipal Association to launch a search for qualified candidates.