BRUNSWICK
The Brunswick Town Council is looking to cast a wide net in its search for its next town manager.
The council on Monday held a workshop with David Barrett of the Maine Municipal Association, with which the council is partnering to aid in the search for a town manager.
In order to find the most qualified applicants, the council said that management in the public sector is preferred, but not required.
“It’s important to cast as wide a net as possible,” said Councilor John Richardson, adding that he could appreciate the “fresh perspective” a candidate from the private sector might offer.
Councilor Suzan Wilson warned against hiring someone with no public sector experience at all, noting the “dramatic differences” between the corporate and public sectors.
Councilor David Watson noted that a person without public sector experience will be faced with a very steep learning curve.
Whoever takes the job will find themselves in for a challenge, according to Councilor John Perreault.
“This town’s a very tough town to deal with,” Perreault said, noting he wanted a strong-willed candidate, and not a rookie. “There’s a lot of scrutiny.”
However, Wilson warned against hiring someone whose temperament would “stifle” employees.
Candidates ought to be very good listeners with strong analytical skills who can easily communicate the policies of the council to the staff and to the public, and is strong in the field of economic development, according to Richardson.
The manager will need experience in creating budgets, administration and labor negotiations, according to Barrett, in addition to other skills. “The job is about getting people to do things collaboratively,” he said.
Barrett said his offices will be collecting resumes over the next three to four weeks, and will meet again with the council in June after the budget season is finished, allowing the council to focus more on the town manager search.
Brunswick’s Finance Director John Eldridge has been filling in as interim town manager since the dismal of former Town Manager Gary Brown by the council in February.
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
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