PARIS — Selectmen hope the third time is the charm in their search for a new town manager.

Their top candidate rescinded his acceptance last week. He was supposed to start work Monday.

“I am very sad to let you guys know we do not have a town manager candidate that is going to be starting anytime soon,” Selectman Robert Wessels told the 10 people at Monday’s meeting.

Interim Town Manager Sawin Millett and selectmen learned Thursday that the candidate would not take the job. Millett said the candidate from Virginia advised that his wife was offered an advancement in her field that she couldn’t turn down.

Selectmen held an executive session Sunday to discuss their next move.

Millett agreed to stay on through the annual town meeting Saturday before returning to retirement and his Waterford farm.

“We reopened the search again and we are interviewing an interim candidate at this point,” Selectmen Chairman Mike Risica said before Monday’s board meeting.

The search for a manager began in December 2015 when Amy Bernard resigned to become Newry’s town administrator. That same month, selectmen hired Millett, a longtime politician and former educator, to serve during the transition.

Selectmen had gone through a first round of candidate interviews with three finalists. Unsatisfied with their choices, they decided to solicit a second round of candidates, which they narrowed down to six — including Selectman Vic Hodgkins — and began interviews in early May. Hodgkins recused himself from the process as soon as he thought he would toss his hat into the ring.

A total of 47 people had applied, including plenty of Mainers and candidates hailing as far away as Oregon.

Now, selectmen will begin a third search.

“We will go to Plan C, I guess it is,” Wessels said Monday night to laughter from the audience.

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