In a 4-3 vote, the Lisbon Town Council hired Assistant Town Manager Sarah Bennett to be the town manager. She starts her new job Monday.

Councilors Roger Bickford, Dale Crafts and Greg Garnett voted against appointing Bennett, but Crafts and Garnett said they would support her despite their no vote.

Council Chairperson Chris Camire said it was a long process, noting one long Saturday when they interviewed candidates. He said he is glad it’s over and honored to see it through with the council.

Forty people applied for the position, eight were selected to be interviewed and three had a second interview, interim Town Manager Jim Bennett said in a letter to town staff ahead of the Tuesday council meeting.

Glenn Michalowski resigned as town manager last fall to take the same position in Raymond amid public pushback in Lisbon over steep property tax increases linked to budgeting miscalculations in the years prior. 

The town is entering into a three-year contract with Bennett that starts with a six-month probationary period. Her salary will be $140,000 to start, with $5,000 raises throughout the duration of the contract.

Bennett plans to continue stable town operations while ensuring adequate protections to keep the town in good financial standing, she said in an email before the Tuesday night meeting.

“At this pivotal moment, my focus will be on keeping town operations stable while applying the fiscal guardrails needed to protect our long‑term financial health,” she said.

The life-long Mainer has worked in Lisbon for 2 1/2 years. It’s her first job in municipal government after working for Sagadahoc County as its Emergency Management Agency director, she said. In her Sagadahoc County job she worked with numerous towns and the state.

Since coming to Lisbon she has enjoyed seeing the love that residents, business owners, councilors and town staff have for the town, she said.

“We have an active citizenry who care deeply about the history and future of Lisbon,” she said. “It’s a community built on pride and I am excited to be in this role leading the town’s next chapter.”

After college, Bennett worked for the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2006, according to information on the town’s website. From there she took the position in Sagadahoc EMA.

In 2023 she earned a master’s degree in public administration after receiving the 2021 Edward F. Dow Student Award, according to information on the town’s website. She was also a Lincoln Institute 75 Fellow for Ethics and Equity in Public Administration.

Bennett said she believes her role is overseeing daily operations, carrying out policies and delivering town services with staff and elected officials in a way that best serves residents.

“My focus will be on professional management, transparency and keeping the town running smoothly while supporting the Council’s long‑term goals for the community,” she said.