RUMFORD – Selectmen unanimously appointed police Chief Stacy Carter as interim town manager after an executive session Thursday night.

Carter has served as chief for 15 months and has been with the Rumford Police Department for more than 17 years.

The decision was made because town attorney Jennifer Kreckel advised that state law prohibits the selectmen’s chairman from serving as interim town manager.

Chairman Jim Rinaldo has been in the position since Town Manager Stephen Eldridge left in mid-January.

“I’m honored that they asked me,” Carter said Friday afternoon. “The town needs to move forward, and I want to make sure we don’t have a loss of services and that things get done.”

Carter will be holding both positions for about four to six weeks while the board continues its search for a manager.

Police Lt. Mark Cayer, who is in charge of the department’s criminal investigative unit, will likely assume many of the administrative duties usually undertaken by the chief. He said Friday that the additional duties will not take time away from directing criminal investigations. He may have to work longer hours, he said.

Carter will receive $500 a week on top of his chief salary for as long as he serves, Rinaldo said. It will be paid from monies remaining from the contract issued to Eldridge.

Eldridge left his position in mid-January after a judge ruled he move to the town as the town’s charter required. At that time, the town bought out his contract.

Whether Cayer will receive additional money for his additional responsibility is not known at this time, Carter said.

He said the Police Department has a section of its budget set aside for paying staff if they perform tasks over and above their usual duties.

For now, Carter won’t hold regular town manager office hours but will work between the upstairs town offices and the downstairs Police Department. That could change once Carter gets settled into his additional duties. Rinaldo plans to help him out.

Selectmen’s Vice Chairwoman Jolene Lovejoy said naming Carter was a good choice.

“He’s been through Maine Municipal Association leadership classes, and he has shown great skills. He won’t be just a figurehead. He won’t sign anything unless he understands it,” she said.

Selectmen, with the assistance of a four-person Hiring Committee, have agreed to interview six of the 24 people who applied for the job. Three were interviewed last week and the remaining three will be interviewed Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the board will meet to choose two or three who will be asked to come back for a second interview.