TOPSHAM — The Board of Selectmen has hired Harpswell consultant Michael Wing to aid in the search for a replacement for Town Manager Cornell Knight, whose last day is March 4.

Applications close Feb. 4, Knight said Monday.

Wing, who also participated in the search that resulted in Knight’s hiring, was hired by the board Jan. 13. In his Dec. 9, 2013, proposal to the panel he said he would review the applications and present selectmen with a group of candidates who meet the panel’s criteria.

All applications will be available for review by the board, which would determine which candidates to interview.

Following interviews, the board will choose a finalist or finalists, whose backgrounds would be investigated by Wing.

Wing is charging $4,500, which covers up to five meetings and two background checks. This was the fee he charged in 2010, when he aided the town in finding a replacement for former Town Manager James Ashe.

Knight, who has served as manager since February 2011 and was named Maine’s manager of the year in 2012, announced his resignation in December. He plans to move to Washington, D.C., where his wife works in the office of U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.

Knight has said his decision did not reflect any dissatisfaction with his job, and that he was “very pleased” with the work, and with his relationship with the Board of Selectmen and town staff.

Planning Director Rich Roedner will serve as interim manager after Knight’s departure.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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Cornell Knight’s last day as Topsham town manager will be March 4.