FARMINGTON – Town Manager Richard Davis was honored by his peers last week with the Leadership Award for the Maine Town and City Management Association.

The award is given once a year to a manager who has shown outstanding leadership in his field, Jay Town Manager Ruth Marden said.

Town Managers Peter Nielsen of Wilton, David Cota of Carrabassett Valley and Perry Ellsworth of Rangeley joined her in making the nomination.

“He has been really good about getting the Western Maine organization going,” Marden said. “He’s worked hard on collaborating efforts for the towns in order to save money and work together more. He’s a tremendous example of what a town manager should be.”

Acknowledged by his peers, Marden said his wife, parents and Farmington Selectman Stephan Bunker and some Farmington department heads were able to be present for the presentation.

“It was a total surprise. A most humbling experience,” Davis said Tuesday about the award. “I was pleased and grateful.”

Davis said he saw his family members and Farmington people walk in just as they were announcing the award and began to wonder what was going on. A Pittsfield native, Davis served as town manager in Buckfield and Wilton prior to coming to Farmington.

“It was well deserved and an outstanding honor reflective on Dick’s ability and how fortunate the town is to have him as manager,” said Charles Murray, chairman of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday. “It’s not only an honor for Dick but also for the town. Citizens should be very happy to have a manager of his stature.”

The award was presented last Wednesday at a conference in Bar Harbor.

Ellsworth presented it for Marden, who was unable to attend.

“The award this year goes to a person who is able to get tasks done by listening and asking questions. One who keeps the spotlight off of himself and shares accomplishments with all. He is a solid force in Western Maine that has created huge changes in an area that saw many manufacturing businesses whither and die,” Ellsworth said.

He mentioned how Davis’ staff or the Board of Selectmen would say he is a great guy to work for or with, and how he has served as a mentor to other area managers.

“He is a peacemaker who works to assure all have their say before an issue is resolved. His solid values, ethics and trust cannot be challenged,” Ellsworth said.

Farmington Fire Chief Terry Bell, who attended the presentation, said Tuesday that Davis is open to new ideas and willing to try them.

“He’s a very supportive manager,” he said, “and he’s good to work with.”

Marden said she’s known Davis for a long time and has found him to be supportive of other local and new town managers.

“He’s been a tremendous mentor to me,” she said. “He’s so good about helping new managers break into the field and helping them find their own way. He’s a tremendous person.”

Davis, who expressed how much he loves Farmington, humbly accepted that his peers thought he deserved the award.

“After 23 years in this business,” he said, “you have to learn something.”