MEXICO – John Madigan was elbow-deep in files, paperwork and meeting schedules Tuesday as he began his second day as Mexico’s new town manager.
He has returned to the role of a town administrator, a position he held as Rumford’s town manager a dozen years ago.
Being a town manager is a challenge, he said, but something he thoroughly enjoys.
“It has its rewards, such as completing projects, dealing with infrastructure and helping people,” he said.
Right now, he is trying to come up to speed on a variety of issues facing the town. Tops, perhaps, is municipal finances.
The town has no surplus money, and $197,000 has been spent from its capital reserves. In all, there is an estimated $300,000 shortfall.
Madigan said he isn’t sure that the $300,000 figure is right. He has begun poring over the books, and by mid-February an auditor should have the final report ready. Once that is submitted, steps will be taken to try to reduce the costs of running the town and rebuild reserves.
He said he also wants to work with area towns toward efforts that could benefit both Mexico and the greater River Valley area.
He said he is also for whatever works best, whether that means merging departments such as fire, police or highway, or other ideas.
“This is a unique community. We are all one community,” he said.
While Rumford town manager from 1985 to 1992, he played important roles in the merger of SAD 43 and the Rumford School Department, the creation of the regional ambulance service, and launching the town’s first industrial park, among other major projects.
He said he resigned in 1992 because of ongoing disagreements and miscommunication with the Board of Selectmen.
He considers one of his greatest accomplishments to be changing Rumford’s fiscal year and starting the twice-yearly payment of property taxes. These measures, he said, eliminated the town’s need to take out tax anticipation notes, thereby saving the town about $200,000 annually.
“I want to find out why Mexico is still taking out tax anticipation notes. There’s a cost involved,” he said.
He is also pleased with the work he did while managing Eastport in the early 1980s. The town was at a low, partially because it had lost its last sardine plant, a business that had supported the eastern Maine town. With his help, a cargo pier was established and the aquaculture industry begun, he said. When he returned a few years later, he was amazed at how much the town’s economy and morale had improved, he said.
Along with working on the town’s financial situation, he said he plans to work with the River Valley Growth Council and other economic groups for the benefit of the area. Before beginning his new job, he began meeting with town officials from Rumford, Mexico and Dixfield to discuss common ways they could cut costs. He plans to continue.
He has lived in Rumford for 18 years, which has allowed his seven children to finish school where they began. From 1992 until this year, he has worked as a building or engineering contractor.
Madigan, 54, was born and grew up in Lynn, Mass. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army and served in Vietnam. He came to Maine in 1975 and earned a degree in business management from the University of Maine in 1978.
“I worked hard to make improvements in Rumford, and I will work hard to make improvements in Mexico,” he said.
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