OXFORD – Oxford selectmen have decided against creating a search committee for a new town manager to replace Michael Huston, who is leaving the end of July.

Instead, the five-member board will do the interviewing and hiring on its own.

Selectmen are ultimately responsible for making the hiring decision, said Chairman Floyd Thayer.

“The selectmen are the ones who take the heat. And they are the ones who make the final decision,” Thayer said. “We hope we can find somebody who can make everybody happy.”

Selectmen were at odds with some members of an earlier search committee over the decision to hire Huston 2 years ago. At issue were questions regarding disciplinary action taken against Huston in the past when he practiced law.

Selectmen decided that “rather than get into a big argument,” they’d conduct the search themselves, Thayer said.

Selectmen plan to interview two candidates to serve as an interim town manager at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Public Safety building. Thayer said it was too early to say whether the board would appoint an interim manager at Thursday’s meeting.

Thayer said that although the board hoped to hire someone local to be the next town manager, they are advertising statewide for the position, in the Portland Press Herald, the Bangor Daily News and the Sun Journal. They are also advertising through the Maine Municipal Association’s trade publication, the Maine Townsmen, and its Web site.

Huston said selectmen have decided to hold their meetings in July and August in the community room of the public safety building, because it has air conditioning.