PARIS – The Paris Utility District has announced the hiring of a new utilities manager, Steven Arnold, who will be leaving the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to take the post.
Peter Bickford, chairman of the Paris Utility District Board of Trustees, said Thursday he expects Arnold’s 17 years of experience with the DEP to result in some very positive developments. Arnold is familiar with state and federal regulations under the Clean Water Act, has overseen major projects and overhauls at water and wastewater facilities, and is familiar with the state’s regulatory process.
“All of us felt his experience with numerous water facilities was a real asset,” Bickford said, adding that the district’s own facility was built in 1975 and is aging.
“We’re in the middle of an engineering study to find out what to do,” he said.
Arnold was not available for comment Thursday.
Arnold is expected to leave the Portland DEP office and begin working in Paris within a few weeks. He will replace former Utilities Manager John Barlow Jr., who died of cancer Jan. 24 at the age of 56.
Barlow served on the Paris Planning Board and Paris Budget Committee, and had managed the Paris Utility District since 1991. Well known and respected throughout the community, he was credited with helping maintain the quality of Paris’ drinking water. The water was recognized as the best-tasting in Maine four years and reached a national competition in New York during Barlow’s tenure.
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