TURNER – The new town manager will have few problems getting familiar with the workings of local government. She’s been doing it for two decades, after all.

The Board of Selectmen on Friday night voted to appoint longtime town clerk Eva Leavitt as the new town manager. She has been acting as interim manager since the start of the year. She has also served for 20 years as town clerk, a position she will retain.

“Most people in town know her and have worked with her,” Selectmen Chairman Dennis Richardson said.

“She has a lot of experience. In her time as interim town manager, she has proven herself to be very knowledgeable and very capable.”

Leavitt will sign a two-year contract with the town.

“I certainly know what’s required and I know what needs to be done,” Leavitt said Friday night. “I was honored that they decided to put their faith in me.”

In January, selectmen voted to not renew Town Manager James Catlin’s contract after he had served in the top position for seven years. That left selectmen with the onus of filling the town manager’s slot before Catlin’s contract expired June 30.

Friday’s appointment comes after years of flux for town leadership. In recent years, a longtime fire chief resigned his position and was soon followed by the man named as his interim replacement.

Last month, three of five selectmen announced plans to resign, decisions possibly spurred by a recent court ruling that strips at least some municipal boards of their authority when a seat suddenly becomes vacant.

Charlie Mock, Ralph Caldwell and Richardson each announced they were leaving for a variety of reasons. All resignations are effective Tuesday, when the town will hold a special election to fill their seats.

Leavitt said she may delegate some of the clerk’s duties to others at Town Hall as she prepares to take on the manager’s job full time.

“She’ll do a great job,” Richardson said.