WISCASSET
Wiscasset prepares to welcome a new town planner next week, while the town’s assessor of more than 30 years readies for retirement.
New Town Planner Jamel Martin Torres is set to start on Monday, Dec. 8. Torres currently works for Healthy Androscoggin in Lewiston, a local Healthy Maine Partnership, according to a municipal press release.
With a master’s degree in community planning and development from the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service in Portland, Torres has worked with schools and municipalities to institute policy changes to promote active living.
Former Town Planner Misty Parker, who worked in Wiscasset for three years, resigned from the position, effective Oct. 3, to take an economic development position in Lewiston.
At Wiscasset’s May Town Meeting, residents voted 138- 33 to pass a $77,384 budget for the municipal planning department, defeating the budget committee’s recommendation of $50,884, which would have reduced the town planner’s hours from 40 to 20 per week.
Early in November, Wiscasset Town Manager Marian Anderson announced the retirement of Town Assessor Sue Varney, effective Dec. 19, noting that Varney has served the town for 37 years.
“Sue has been a valuable asset and friend to all of us and will be greatly missed,” said Anderson in a press release. “Her contribution and rich experience made it possible to transition smoothly between leadership changes on the Selectboard and in the manager’s office.”
Anderson, formerly the town manager for Richmond, took on the position of Wiscasset town manager starting Aug. 18, with an annual salary of $78,000.
Previously, Don Gerrish, an Eaton Peabody consultant, served as interim town manager since February after former town manager Laurie Smith resigned Feb. 7 to become Kennebunkport’s town manager.
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