MEXICO – A face familiar to the River Valley area was unanimously hired as Mexico’s new town manager at Wednesday’s selectmen’s meeting.
John E. Madigan Jr. of Rumford was hired at an annual salary of $48,000. He begins his duties Monday.
He also took part in Wednesday’s meeting.
Arthur Bordeau, chairman of the board, said he was impressed with Madigan’s expertise in grant writing, as well as his fiscal experience.
“He has extensive monetary skills. I feel good that we got someone with his expertise,” said Bordeau.
Madigan, 54, served as Rumford’s town manager from 1985 to 1992. Prior to that, he was city manager for Eastport in eastern Maine from 1982 to 1985 and town manager of Monson, in Piscataquis County, from 1978 to 1980.
He is a Vietnam-era veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971 and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Maine. He is currently a self-employed general contractor.
Madigan was selected from a pool of 13 applicants and was one of two men interviewed for the position by the Town Manager Search Committee. In addition to the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board Chairman Dan Casey and SAD 43 board member and former Selectman Betty Barrett served on that committee.
He has also served as president of the Maine Municipal Association and the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments and was a member of the Maine Town and City Managers Association.
Bordeau said the pool of candidates included some very qualified people.
“We came out with the best,” he said. “He’ll do good things for us.”
Madigan thanked the board and the nearly 20 residents attending Wednesday’s meeting for their confidence.
“I hope to fix any problems here and keep on with economic development to the best of my ability,” he said.
Madigan was successful in securing grants for several major infrastructure projects in Rumford during his tenure, including that town’s industrial park and a major Municipal Building restoration project. He also participated in the creation of the area’s regional ambulance service.
He replaces 10-year town manager veteran, Joseph Derouche, who left his job at the end of December. Derouche, who is afflicted with multiple sclerosis, has had the assistance of David Errington, the town’s road commissioner and code enforcement officer, during the past few months.
The town has been wrestling with addressing a budget shortfall since last year. A preliminary audit of the town’s books in October showed a deficit of about $300,000.
Since Derouche left, Errington and Bordeau have managed the day-to-day operation of the town office.
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