DIXFIELD – Selectmen voted unanimously Monday night to advertise for a new town manager.
After a one-hour closed session to discuss the arrangement the town has had since July with neighboring Mexico to share the services of Town Manager John Madigan, the board decided to return the leadership position to full time.
“It’s just too much work for one person, even someone as capable as John,” said board Vice Chairman Eugene Skibitsky.
“It was a good try and everyone is happy and all are supportive,” Madigan said late Monday evening about both the Dixfield and Mexico boards.
Although he said taking care of the routine day-to-day matters can be done, he has been concerned about about long-term and planning issues, and grant-writing.
“There’s just not enough time,” he said. “This has been my concern for a little while. I told them I can’t give a whole town manager at half time.”
Madigan became Mexico’s town manager in January, after longtime manager Joseph Derouche left. He then began as a half-time town manager in neighboring Dixfield in July, soon after Town Manager Nanci Allard left for a similar position.
The two boards agreed to give the shared arrangement a try until October.
Madigan was earning $52,000 annually in Mexico. When he took on both towns, his salary jumped to $62,000. Dixfield had also paid its former full-time town manager about $52,000 annually.
Skibitsky said he also believes a town manager should have a full-time presence in the town.
“It was a great experiment, but just too overwhelming. I’m glad we had someone like John,” he said.
Madigan expects he will continue in the shared arrangement until the end of the year, then revert to his original contract with Mexico.
Skibitsky said he hopes to have a full-time town manager on board by January when the annual development of the municipal budget beings.
Advertisements for the position are expected to go out immediately after selectmen Chairman Tony Carter meets with the Mexico selectmen on Wednesday night.
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