MEXICO – Ads seeking a new town manager will begin appearing in Maine newspapers by the end of the week.

Whether the position will be full- or part-time, or shared, or possibly changed to that of an administrative assistant has not yet been determined. But selectmen know what they want – someone adept at financial management and planning, someone who can handle general assistance, and someone who is skilled at comprehensive planning, grant-writing and collective bargaining.

Selectmen, at a special meeting Monday afternoon, set a due date for applications for Dec. 31. Then, on Jan. 4, the board, along with two residents who are members of the search committee, Dan Casey and Betty Barrett, will sit down and sift through the applications.

In the meantime, selectmen expect to set another special meeting to devise the kinds of questions that will be asked to those who are interviewed and to set the salary range for the position.

Also, Selectman Monique Aniel plans to do research on the types of local government that towns of Mexico’s size have.

“We need to save money. We’re trying to regionalize as much as possible. It’s a new world out there,” she said.

If a decision is made to go with an administrative assistant instead of a town manager, that change must be approved at town meeting, board Chairman Arthur Bordeau said.

“The feeling now is we want a full-time manager,” he said.

Joseph Derouche has served as town manager since 1994. His resignation is effective Dec. 31.

After that date and until a new person takes over the position, Bordeau and the assistant to the town manager, David Errington, will run the day-to-day business of the town office.