New Gloucester honors manager; successor named this week

NEW GLOUCESTER — Selectmen on Monday paid tribute to outgoing Town Manager Paul First, whose last day in office is Tuesday.

First served as town planner for seven years before being named interim town manager and then permanent town manager for the past three and a half years.

His replacement is expected to be named this week, board Chairwoman Linda Chase said. Thirty-two people applied for the job. The board has entered a contract with one of them but the candidate, the town and the current employer requested to wait until the resignation is tendered before making the public announcement, she said.

The candidate is expected to begin work May 15.

Meanwhile, the board named Sharlene Myers as interim town manager. She is the deputy town clerk, assistant treasurer and deputy tax collector. Myers will be paid $400 per week for the manager’s duties.

In other business, the board awarded a playground construction contract of $46,530 to Maine Recreation and Design of Brunswick, pending Maine State Bureau of Parks and Recreation approval.

Selectmen agreed to name RHR Smith & Co. of Buxton to conduct the town’s audit for fiscal year 2017 for $8,500.

Four sealed bids were opened for construction of a 24- by 44-foot pavilion at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds property on Bald Hill Road. Staff will review the bids and make a recommendation to the board.

The improvements are supported by a Federal Land and Water Conservation Grant through the U.S. National Park Service with a 50/50 match. The total federal share is $55,000.

Finally, the board signed the warrant for the May 1 annual town meeting.