Cindy Dunn had served as town manager for Buckfield since 1991.

BUCKFIELD – Selectmen reluctantly accepted the resignation of Town Manager Cindy Dunn at their meeting Tuesday night.

Board Chairman Skip Stanley said, “We will be hard-pressed to find someone with her dedication.”

Selectman Oscar Gammon said they had tried to negotiate, but Dunn said she was just burned out. “I have reached a point in my life where I need to slow down, enjoy and reacquaint myself with life, my family and friends.”

She says she has been spending 49 hours a week on town business and this doesn’t include attending meetings. She has also kept the office open longer than required in order to accommodate the town residents. Selectmen agreed she has gone above and beyond what could be expected of a town manager.

Dunn says she has been “drowning in paperwork, not to mention the day-to-day activities.” She wears several hats since she’s: town clerk, treasurer, bookkeeper, tax collector, registrar of voters and assessors assistant.

She said in her resignation letter, “It is becoming increasingly harder for me to keep afloat.” There was one other person working in the office.

Before starting as town manager, Dunn had worked for the town for eight years. She has served as town manager for Buckfield since 1991. The population of the town has grown by 10 percent since Dunn took office. The town census showed populations of 1,556 in 1991 and 1,723 in 2004.

Though her letter of resignation was written on April 27, Dunn has agreed to stay on until selectmen can find a new town manager, Stanley said.