The Mexico town board shifts duties between town manager and town road commissioner.
MEXICO – Selectmen have reduced the hours and salary of the town manager and reassigned some of his duties to the town’s road commissioner.

The announcement was made at Wednesday’s regular board meeting. But selectmen, Town Manager Joseph Derouche and Road Commissioner David Errington have been working out a new reconfiguration of duties over the past several weeks in closed sessions.

“The public needs to know that this is a transition to a new town manager,” said Joseph Derouche, Mexico’s long-time town manager. “There are so many projects going on right now in town management and economic development that we can’t suddenly transition to a new person.”

When a new person will be sought will depend upon Derouche’s health.

Because of a chronic, slowly debilitating illness, Derouche’s office hours have been reduced over the past year or so. Instead, he has conducted some of the municipality’s work at home. Errington has filled in occasionally in the past when Derouche was unable to conduct all the duties that go with a town manager’s position.

The new plan for administration of the town will go into effect on July 1 for one year, then be reviewed. Errington’s new title will be assistant to the town manager.

Among the changes are:

• A reduction in the town manager’s annual salary from $52,000 to $43,000, and a boost in Errington’s yearly salary from $37,810 to $40,000. Errington also serves as code enforcement officer and plumbing inspector.

• The road commissioner will no longer be responsible for winter plowing and snow removal, and some of his summer highway work oversight will be reduced.

• Derouche will generally keep morning Town Office hours, while Errington will maintain afternoon office hours.

• Among the specific duties assigned to Errington will be some of the day-to-day routine decision making in the Town Office, updating the town’s comprehensive plan and regular communication with the chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Errington remains as liaison with the Planning Board.

“The board has been very concerned about a transition,” said Selectmen Chairman Arthur Bordeau. “We’re looking for continuity.”

He said, too, that as long as Derouche’s health allows, he will continue to be the town manager.

Derouche has been town manager for 10 years, and served as a selectman for several years prior to that.
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