PARIS – The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday appointed Amy Bernard, town manager of Wayne, to be the next manager for Paris.

The unanimous decision was made at Tuesday night’s meeting, and the contract was signed.

“She stood apart from the others,” Selectman Sam Elliot said.

Bernard will begin part-time on Dec. 3 and become full-time after she completes her work in Wayne on Dec. 17. She has served Wayne for the past four years. She came to Wayne from Barre, VT.

Bernard has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Maine and completed courses toward a master’s degree in planning and development.

She has held internships working with town officials in Windham, N.H., and conducted research for the River Valley Growth Council in Rumford. She also worked as an intern for more than a year with the town of Barre, Vermont.

Bernard has also been a volunteer for several organizations.

“The board felt that her formal education and involvement with towns as large as Barre and the size of Wayne provided a good balance of experience,” Elliot said in a statement read at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Barre’s population was 9,052 according to the 2010 Census. Wayne’s was 1,138; Paris’ was 2,267.

“Beyond that, we were impressed with her confidence in her abilities, her easy demeanor, her demonstrated strengths in dealing with staff and the public, as well as her clear sense of what the position will require of her,” Elliot said. “She has good experience with budgets, personnel matters and typical small-town concerns. We welcome Ms. Bernard and look forward to having her as our town manager.”

Bernard was selected from 54 applicants to replace Phil Tarr, whose contract was not renewed in June. Town Clerk Elizabeth Knox has been serving as interim town manager.

A public reception will be held for Bernard from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 26 at the Paris municipal building.

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