NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen are moving toward formulating a written job description and preparing for interviews for a new town manager.

Onn Monday, Chairman Steve Libby said 54 candidates have applied for the post at last week’s deadline.

Earlier this summer Town Manager William Cooper tendered his resignation saying he would retire from the position he’s held since 1989. Cooper agreed to stay on until the next town manager was named for a seamless transition.

New Gloucester has never developed a town manager job description.

Now the board is using a Maine Municipal guided document and state law that when finished will be reviewed by the town attorney and matched to meet the town’s personnel policies.

Selectmen grappled with a provision to allow the town manager the sole authority as the personnel director to hire, evaluate and direct town staff, namely department heads.

Several selectmen said the board should have jurisdiction to direct the town manager in this role.

Selectman Lenora Conger said, “As a manager, it doesn’t speak well that you don’t have confidence in the person (town manager) you hired after a probationary period.”

Selectman Stephanie Bryan said she sees the selectmen as being on top in the line of command over the town manager.

Last spring, the board and Cooper were at odds over hiring the fire chief. The position is yet to be filled and candidates who applied have been told that interviews are on hold until the next town manager is hired.

The board made interim appointments for chief and other officers for fire and rescue that will lapse in October.

A Fire and Rescue Ordinance passed by voters last winter spells out the hiring procedure under the jurisdiction of the town manager whereby selectmen approve the town manager’s candidate. The ordinance disbanded the New Gloucester Fire and Rescue Association that voted on officers annually.

All appointments are made now by selectmen with the abolishment of the New Gloucester Fire Department Trustees that existed since 1928.

The issue sparked protest by the town manager when several board members were named to serve on the interview team. Cooper challenged the board’s confidence in him.

Selectmen backed down on the issues on advice from the town’s attorney.

Then Cooper tendered his resignation after his annual job evaluation was completed by the board.

Maine Municipal Association is assisting the town in the manager search. On Aug. 19, the five-member board will review resumes of the top 20 applicants selected by MMA.

In closed session, the board is developing questions for candidates in preparation for the interview process.

Chairman Libby said there is no firm time line to bring the new town manager aboard.