LISBON – Roseanna “Rosie” Bradley of Cornville has been hired as director of economic and community development for the town. She was one of 14 applicants for the job that has been vacant since December.

She is economic and community development planner for Fort Fairfield, population about 6,700, now. Before that she was executive director of the River Valley Growth Council from June 2005 to March 2007 and the River Valley Technology Center.

“Roseanna brings to the town of Lisbon broad and extensive knowledge in economic and community development as well as good business experience,” said Town Manager Steve Eldridge, who was Rumford town manager from December 2004 to January 2007.

Bradley is a past president of the River Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and has a background of working with the business community, including business retention and recruitment, he added.

Her annual salary will be $60,000.

Her predecessor, Jennifer Stowell Norris, who held the position on a probationary basis for about six months before resigning in December, was hired at $42,000. Dan Feeney, who held the job for about 20 years before that, was earning about $50,000.

When contacted Thursday, Bradley said she was excited to begin working for Lisbon. “I could feel the excitement there,” she said.

Bradley is a certified community development block grant administrator with grant writing skills. She is completing her bachelor of arts degree in public administration at the University of Maine in Augusta. She will begin her new duties in Lisbon on March 10.

– Connie Footman