NEW GLOUCESTER — Paul First was unanimously appointed interim town manager Monday, following an an executive session by the Board of Selectmen. He will serve until June 30.

He was named acting town manager Feb. 14 after Sumner Field III retired. He has been the full-time town planner since 2009.

Also Monday, the board named Assistant Town Planner Milan Nevajda as interim town planner until June 30. He and First will share planning duties.

The board approved a $300 per week stipend for First and $180 stipend per week for Nevajda.

“I think this is a great community,” First said Tuesday. “I was initially hesitant, now I’m fully committed. I will try really hard and I value the people that I will be working with.

“My biggest job is to be sure to stay within the budget planning parameters dealing with the 2015 budget,” he said.

Selectmen agreed to send First to a basic budgeting workshop sponsored by Maine Municipal Association in April.

First has been a key spokesman and grant writer for the Upper Gloucester Public Water Project, the town’s first public water system. It will serve 50 households and businesses by next summer.

He also spearheaded an energy efficiency project for all municipal buildings and led the public in several educational sessions.

First heads up the Economic Development Committee, the Land Management Use Committee and the Planning Board.

He was the former executive director of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust.

He and his family live in Durham.