NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen held an executive session Monday to negotiate hiring a town manager, and Chairman Steve Libby said an announcement is expect in early October.
Last May, Town Manager William Cooper tendered his resignation, saying he was retiring after 14 years on the job.
Last spring selectmen and Cooper wrestled with the hiring procedure for a full-time fire chief based on an ordinance passed by voters last winter that gives the town manager authority to conduct interviews and name a preferred candidate to selectmen to approve.
The board ruled against Cooper and said some members would be part of the interview team with the town manager.
Later, an opinion from the town attorney supported the town manager’s role and not selectmen to conduct the interviews.
The board then reversed the earlier decision to be part of the procedure.
Cooper agreed to serve the town until a new manager is named.
The board sought assistance from Maine Municipal Association to launch the search. Fifty-three candidates applied for the job and a handful were interviewed in early September. The board has narrowed the search to one.
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