RUMFORD – Selectmen and the Town Manager Hiring Committee have narrowed down the field of candidates to one finalist following second interviews conducted during the past two weeks.

Board Chairman Jim Rinaldo said on Friday that the Maine Municipal Association is expected to complete a background check on the finalist sometime later this week. Once the background check is complete, he said the board would begin negotiating a contract.

He would not disclose the name of the finalist. One of the two who underwent second interviews is from Maine and the other is from the state of New York.

He said the finalist, chosen by a majority of the Hiring Committee, has not been a town manager, but does have extensive financial, economic development and municipal experience.

“I am very comfortable with him and believe he would do a good job for us,” Rinaldo said.

He said the finalist is well acquainted with the issues facing Rumford and has read the town’s charter.

Rinaldo said he hopes the new person will be on the job by late May or early June.

The Hiring Committee, with the assistance of the Maine Municipal Association, received 24 applications for the position. Six semi-finalists were interviewed before the two finalists were interviewed for a second time.

According to the town’s charter, the town manager must reside in Rumford. The former town manager, Stephen Eldridge of Monmouth, did not move to the town and left in January following two years of service.

Rinaldo served as interim town manager for a few weeks before police Chief Stacy Carter took over as the interim manager a few weeks ago. He is expected to remain as interim town manager until the new person begins work.

In the meantime, Lt. Mark Cayer is serving as interim police chief.