OTISFIELD – Selectmen and the finance committee talked Wednesday night about the nuts and bolts of hiring a town manager – a question that will be put to voters at town meeting this summer.
At the informational meeting, the committee said the new position for the first year would cost about $61,000, including salary and benefits. In total, if Otisfield changes to a manager, the town would spend roughly $142,000 to pay for its entire town office staff, including positions such as a full-time clerk.
But due to Maine law, Otisfield residents first have to vote on hiring a town manager at the next town meeting and then decide on the position’s salary the following year.
Otisfield has a population of 1,627.
In Maine, 46 towns are smaller than Otisfield, and 27 of them have town managers.
Selectmen said the town manager would be responsible for supervising road construction and the road foreman, the office staff and other town workers.
The benefits of a town manager were listed in a handout passed out to the meeting attendees and included reducing the workload of selectmen. A town manager can also apply for grants, prepare the town budget, and possibly result in cost efficiencies.
Selectmen’s Chairman Mark Cyr warned the public.
“The town manager will be making town decisions with less town input,” Cyr Said.
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