DIXFIELD – Town Manager Tom Richmond submitted his resignation to the Board of Selectmen Monday night, after a 30-minute closed session.

Richmond is taking a similar position in Carmel where he was manager from 1999-2005. It’s near his residence in Bass Harbor in the town of Tremont on Mount Desert Island. He starts the job Oct. 1, he said.

Richmond said Monday night that he is taking the position because it is only an hour from home. Carmel is west of Bangor in Penobscot County. Another factor in his decision, he said, is the town of about 3,000 has fewer municipal departments, so the job should be less stressful.

During the week, Richmond resides with a son in Livermore.

His resignation will be effective in 30 days, although he said he would stay as long as 45 days if the town desires.

A history of service

Richmond came to Dixfield in November 2006 after former Town Manager Jeff Jacobson left to return to Minnesota.

Prior to coming to Dixfield, Richmond was town manager of the coastal community of Steuben in Washington County.

He said Carmel selectmen called him about three weeks ago inquiring whether he was interested in returning to the town. He signed a contract with them about 10 days ago, he said.

“I’m leaving Dixfield with a good relationship with the board. The town has been a good year and a half. The job responsibilities will be less. I enjoy being a town manager,” he said.

Petition played no role

He said his decision was not related to a matter brought up at Monday’s regular selectmen’s meeting by resident Bill Gallant.

Gallant, a former police chief in Dixfield and current owner of several small businesses, presented the board will a petition signed by 84 residents calling for the board not to renew Richmond’s contract in November.

Gallant asked the board Monday night, prior to the closed session, whether they had done a background check on Richmond before hiring him.

“Why did they let him go in Tremont? What was being done there is being done here – poor treatment of the people in the town office. If you had done a thorough check, he wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Gallant said.

Board Chairwoman Bettina Martin said references were checked. She said, too, that Gallant was entitled to his opinion.

“We have to go into executive session to discuss personnel,” she told Gallant.

In a telephone conversation with Richmond Monday night, he declined comment on allegations made by Gallant. He said that such discussions involved personnel on which he would not comment.

Gallant said he had already started a second petition in an effort to gather 152 signatures that he said would force a public vote on whether to renew Richmond’s contract.

Richmond said only the selectmen can hire and fire a town manager.

Selectmen are expected to begin advertising for a new town manager, Richmond said.