RANGELEY – As 2003 ends, so will the tenure of one of Rangeley’s longest serving town managers in recent history.

Bill Lundrigan steps aside Dec. 31 after six and a half years.

And as the new year begins, the town’s five selectmen will take charge of municipal affairs.

Selectmen bought out the contract of Lundrigan, who submitted his resignation two weeks ago. The contract was to expire in June 2004.

The separation agreement includes full salary and benefits, though Lundrigan opted out of his benefits and instead will receive an additional 10 percent of his salary.

The town’s five selectmen, Chairman Mark Beauregard, Jim Stone, Jim Jannace, Dick Morton and Don Nuttall, have yet to begin the search for a new or interim town manager.

On Tuesday, the day before Lundrigan’s tenure in town was up, Beauregard said that for now, “Selectmen will try to take care of things as best they can.”

“I don’t think any selectmen are sad he’s leaving,” Beauregard admitted. “I think with this type of position, no matter where, after a certain period of time, it’s time for a change.”

But, the chairman did say the board wrote a kind letter of recommendation for Lundrigan, in which they acknowledged he did help Rangeley get on a sound financial footing.

“He did as good as could be expected,” said Beauregard, adding that Rangeley is a “complex community with strong-willed individuals.”

Beauregard said selectmen plan to work with the Maine Municipal Association to find a town manager but don’t plan to rush the process.

Advertisements seeking someone to fill the post have not been put out yet.

Selectmen will meet as often as needed to discuss town business, and Beauregard expects that to be up to two or three times a week. Stone, the only selectmen who is retired, will go through the mail and check into the office.

Mike Starn, communications director for the Maine Municipal Association, said it usually takes at least a few months to hire a town manager.

Sometimes selectmen serve in the interim, he said, but MMA recommends an individual such as a town clerk or treasurer be appointed.

“They are the manager’s boss,” he said of selectmen, “so they should be aware of what the manager is doing.”

Rangeley, Starn said, shouldn’t have trouble filling Lundrigan’s position once they decide to advertise. “While it’s a small community, I think it has a certain attraction to it that will appeal to a lot of candidates.”

Rangeley selectmen earn a $2,000 stipend each year. Despite the selectmen’s added responsibilities, that will not increase.

“We all know the workload will increase,” Beauregard said. “We all just plan to pitch in and do what we can to keep things going. We’ve got a good crew of town employees to rely on and we’re confident in them. We’re not too worried about it. I think we’re pretty practical about things.”

Selectmen will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the town office. Town employees will be notified about the new arrangement after the New Year’s holiday.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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