BETHEL – James G. Doar attended his first Board of Selectmen meeting Wednesday night as Bethel’s new town manager.

However, Doar, 31, who moved to Bethel last year, doesn’t officially start work in the new job until Monday, June 15.

His contract doesn’t start until July 1, the day after Town Manager Scott Cole’s contract expires, Town Clerk Christen Mason said.

That concern and others were discussed at Wednesday night’s organizational meeting which followed the annual town meeting at Crescent Park Elementary School.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Stan Howe was re-elected chairman and Dennis Doyon vice chairman.

Prior to working with office personnel, other than the selectmen, Doar must first appoint a host of town officials, but he can’t do that until July 1, Mason said.

“We follow Scott’s contract until Scott is gone,” Mason said Thursday morning.

Cole, who wants Doar to begin work on June 15, told Doyon that he would help train the new town manager and familiarize him with town departments and inner workings.

Mason said Doar would be paid starting June 15, despite the technicality of his contract starting on July 1.

Doar must then appoint: Mason as town clerk, deputy tax collector and registrar of voters; Marcia Monk as deputy treasurer; and Alan Carr as police chief.

Doar must also appoint an animal control officer, deputy welfare director, code enforcement officer and plumbing inspector.

Once appointed as town clerk, Mason must then appoint Amy Hanscom as deputy town clerk and deputy registrar of voters.

“He signs their appointment forms and then we’ll swear them in,” Mason said.

Doar himself must also be sworn in as tax collector, treasurer, road commissioner, welfare director and airport manager.

Doar served as Rumford’s town manager between 2007 and 2008.

He will serve Bethel for the next three years with a starting salary of $52,000. That will increase to $54,000 in the second year and to $55,000 in the third year.

The next regularly scheduled Board of Selectmen meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, June 22, in the town office.