PARIS – Elisa Whiteley was named interim town manager after the Paris Board of Selectmen emerged from a special executive session Monday.

Whiteley appeared excited by the appointment, and said she hopes to continue in Town Manager Steve McAllister’s footsteps.

“I don’t want to see a lot of changes made before another full-time town manager (is hired),” she said.

Whiteley was one of four town employees to express interest in the interim town manager position, McAllister said.

Assistant Code Enforcement Officer Alfred Atkinson was one such employee. While waiting for the board to come out of its executive session, he said he had submitted an application.

Atkinson was not interviewed by the board. However, Town Clerk Betty Larson showed up briefly after McAllister had emerged from the meeting room and asked for a phone book.

The board spoke with Larson for five minutes, then with Whiteley for almost 10. The meeting, which began at 6 p.m., was over by 7:22 p.m.

When asked whether she intends to apply for the town manager position, Whiteley said she’d like to wait and see how the interim position goes.

McAllister announced his resignation at a Sept. 27 meeting. His last day on the payroll will be Nov. 11, but he is expected to use his vacation time to leave earlier.

Selectmen advertised the interim town manager position by handing notices to town department heads and stuffing them into employee paycheck envelopes Friday.

Advertisements for the full position are expected to run in regional newspapers this week and on the Maine Municipal Association’s Web site for one month. Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 5.