BRUNSWICK

John Eldridge, who has been the town’s finance director for the last 26 years, and the interim town manager since February, is being offered the town manager job permanently.

The town council on Monday voted 5-3 to enter into negotiations with Eldridge in order to offer him the position.

There were 49 applicants for the job, which the council whittled in July down to six who were interviewed. Those six were reduced to three. After one applicant withdrew, that left Eldridge and Presque Isle City Manager Jim Bennett.

Eldridge, however, appeared to be the public favorite at the two, separate question-and-answer sessions held earlier this month. Bennett appeared to take tougher questions, particularly about his departure as Lewiston’s city manager in 2009.

“We ended the day with two very qualified candidates,” said Councilor Steve Walker on Monday, adding that the public overwhelmingly showed the “highest confidence” in Eldridge.

“I’ve been contacted by 25 or more people … all who have been very supportive of John Eldridge,” said Councilor Jane Millett. “They trust him, they know his skills set. He’s the person Brunswick needs right now.”

“I do respect Mr. Eldridge. I have no doubt that he will do a very good job,” Councilor Suzan Wilson said before Monday’s vote. “The libertarian in myself was interested in shaking it up, going outside the box. I’m sure my colleagues do not necessarily see it that way at this time. Stability and familiarity is the order of the day for most of my colleagues, and I’m willing to work along with that.”

Wilson and Councilor David Watson said their votes in opposition were because they said the full council ought to have been present during the vote.

Councilor John Richardson did not attend Monday’s meeting.

“Nine of us needed to be here, on-record,” Wilson said in an interview.

Efforts to reach Richardson, as well as Eldridge — who was not present during Monday’s meeting — were unsuccessful.

Wilson said she would have liked to have seen the hiring process done differently, and noted that it dragged on throughout the summer, but then the final decision between the two finalists was rushed.

“It becomes a popularity contest,” Wilson said. “It became a guy we know, versus a guy we know nothing about.”

Gerald Favreau, who also voted in opposition, said in an interview that he liked what Bennett had done for cities he administrated, including Lewiston and Westbrook, and that he presented himself well during the process.

“I feel Bennett was more qualified,” Favreau said in an interview.

Millett, however, noted that Eldridge has earned the community’s trust.

If and when Eldridge ascends to the position, one of his first priorities will be to hire a replacement finance director.

“Hopefully, he can move quickly,” said Council Chairman Benet Pols.

Eldridge has been working as both interim manager and finance director for more than seven months under what Pols said were stressful circumstances. As interim manager, Eldridge has been negotiating construction of a new road in Cook’s Corner and handling litigation over the tax status of Kestrel Aviation.

During the same time period, he has overseen the town’s budget process for the next fiscal year.

“There’s been large, across the board support for John Eldridge,” said Pols.