SABATTUS — Selectmen on Tuesday contracted out leadership duties to a New Hampshire company that is supplying a Camden man to serve as town manager for the next year.

It’s the first arrangement of its kind in Maine for the company, Municipal Resources Inc., of Meredith, N.H., though it has nine similar ongoing arrangements with other towns, most in New England, according to its president, Don Jutton.

Selectmen unanimously approved the contract. Under the deal, MRI will receive up to $90,000 and Rick Bates comes on as new town manager for one year, working three days a week. Andrew Gilmore of Yarmouth will join him, as needed, as an economic development adviser.
Bates will start Feb. 25.

“We have a lot of confidence in MRI, Rick and Andy,” Chairman Scott Lansley said. “We’re going to be pioneers here. The smaller towns may decide to go this route.”

Sabattus has been without a town manager since Gregory Gill, the first in the post, resigned Sept. 1. Gill, in place for two years, had worked more than a year without a contract. Jim Bennett has been interim manager since, helping to lead the new manager search.

According to a press release from Bennett, the town’s search committee received 48 applications and interviewed four candidates.

“In the talented pool, there wasn’t anybody who popped out, ‘That’s the person,'” Lansley said.

In signing a new town manager the traditional way, selectmen were looking at a three-year commitment, he said, that in the second and third years would have cost more than $90,000, including salary and benefits. This new agreement, “we’re going to revisit it as we go,” he said.

Jutton said MRI has worked with dozens of towns, primarily in New Hampshire. Assignments have lasted from 90 days to seven years, he said, in roles such as town manager, police chief, assessor and finance director. Towns and cities can benefit from “slight monetary savings,” not having to pay benefits, being able to consult professionals within the company and having a 10-day termination clause, he said.

“Nobody has to pay us to go away,” Jutton said.

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