BUCKFIELD — The Board of Selectmen appointed Dana K. Lee to the position of interim town manager Tuesday night.

He takes over immediately and will work with Town Manager Glen Holmes until he leaves Feb. 3. Holmes has taken the position of director of the Western Maine Economic Development Council headquartered in South Paris.

Lee was town manager of Poland from July 2007 to May 2011 and of Mechanic Falls from 1990 to 2006.

He has been a management consultant/lobbyist and trainer. Currently, he is with Lee Facilitation Services in Mechanic Falls, which provides local businesses and units of government with problem-solving, meeting facilitation, strategic planning, grant and low interest loan procurement and other services.

Lee was also appointed general assistance director, code enforcement officer, road commissioner, tree warden, public health officer and director of emergency management, which are roles Holmes has been filling as part of his job.

In other news, the board voted not to pursue the purchase of the Oxford Networks building but directed rescue Chief Lisa Buck and fire Chief Tim Brooks to look at the land available where the fire and rescue station is and decide on plans to build a new facility.

The roof needs replacing on the old fire station and Brooks said the exhaust fumes from the diesel vehicles are a hazard to the people who stay in the building all day and some at night.

“There is much that we need in a new building,” he said.

Judy Berg mentioned that a study had been made in 2002 and plans were drawn up at that time for a new fire station. It was agreed that this might be a good place to start planning.

After some discussion, it was voted to allow Brooks to take up to $10,000 from the Fire Department Reserve Fund to purchase a squad truck to use when volunteers are called to direct traffic at an accident. The truck would be a four-wheel-drive and have a bed to carry such items as traffic cones and other equipment.

Brook said he needed something that could be used in rescues on Streaked Mountain or other such places.

Holmes said there was more than $11,000 in the fund, so the money was there.

Holmes explained the need for an undesignated fund balance of $460,511.09. Though this is more than the policy minimum level, Holmes explained there were four and a half months from when budgets are approved on June 30 until taxes are collected and the town needs money to pay bills without borrowing.

Editor’s note: This story was modified on Jan. 19, 2012 to reflect Lee’s status as interim town manager.

Copy the Story Link