RUMFORD – The search for a new executive director for the River Valley Growth Council will go statewide this weekend.

The growth council had first thought that a $100,000 grant from the State Planning Office stipulated that current president of the council, Joseph Derouche, be appointed as the new executive director.

They’ve learned since, however, that that’s not the case.

“We want to remove any lingering doubts the public may have that this was a closed process,” said Bill Hine, longtime council member and treasurer and member of the Personnel Committee.

The grant does designate that 75 percent of the total be used for staff and administrative expenses for economic development under the growth council, and 25 percent for the director of the Fractionation Development Center, which is a spinoff from the council that plans to develop alternative uses for biomass products.

The growth council accepted the grant at its Nov. 3 meeting. At that time, Hine and a group of council members formed a Personnel Committee to negotiate with Derouche for the position. However, Hine said when they learned that the stipulation was not a part of the contract from the State Planning Office, which is the grant’s issuing agent, they did not make an offer during the meeting with Derouche.

Plans were for current executive director and economic developer, Scott Christiansen, to become the fractionation center’s new director, and for Derouche to take over Christiansen’s position.

Derouche may well become the next economic developer, said Hine, but not necessarily. It all depends on the quality of candidates who apply for the job. The deadline for application is Dec. 3. Christiansen plans to become the fractionation director once a new developer is on board.

Christiansen said on Tuesday that he misinterpreted Gov. John Baldacci when he, Derouche, and several local legislators met with the governor to discuss a possible grant in September.

“I left the governor’s office believing he wanted Joe. I did not give the governor’s office a chance to see the press release (designating Derouche) before it went out,” he said. “I should have run it by the governor’s office. This was an unfortunate error and the fault was mine.”

Derouche also expected to be appointed to the position. He could not be reached for comment.

Hine said he wasn’t pinning blame on anyone for the apparent misunderstanding.

“We just want to be fair and square,” he said.

Hopes are that the position will be filled soon after the beginning of the year.