PARIS — Selectmen hope to extend a job offer for the position of town manager by early November, they said in a workshop Monday.
The Board of Selectmen didn’t vote, but discussed a timeline that would begin advertising for the position next week, leaving plenty of time for interviews, reference checks and background checks before Town Manager Phil Tarr’s contract expires Jan. 3.
The board voted in June to give Tarr notice they wouldn’t renew his contract at the end of the year. Without notice, the contract would have been renewed automatically in January.
The board also will ask for citizens’ suggestions on what makes a good town manager, which could help the board form questions to ask applicants in interviews.
Selectmen said they hope to begin reviewing applications in mid-September and conduct interviews on Sept. 22 and 29. They’ll vote on a schedule for the hiring at the Aug. 13 meeting.
Early in the workshop, Selectman Robert Kirchherr said there were good reasons to charge a citizen committee to initially go through applications. He said it would give the message to applicants that residents are active participants in town affairs, and would allow people “who have some experience in hiring and firing people” to be involved in the process.
Other selectmen said the board should have an active role throughout the hiring of a new town manager. Selectman Ryan Lorrain said overseeing the town manager is “one of the biggest responsibilities we have.”
Selectman Gerald Kilgore agreed. “The more fingers you have in the pie, the more meetings you’re going to have,” he said.
Chairman Sam Elliot said he’d object to turning the work over to a committee. “We don’t really have a great deal of time,” he said.
The board held a special meeting before the workshop. They approved the warrant for a special town meeting Aug. 13 where residents can vote on whether to enter a one-year trial merging of police services with Norway. The board also approved a liquor license for the Smilin’ Moose Publyk House and Tavern.
treaves@sunjournal.com
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