ARUNDEL — With an interim town manager in place, Arundel is looking for public input as it seeks to hire a permanent replacement.

Previous Town Manager Todd Shea left for a position as general manager for the Kennebunk Light and Power District, and Arundel resident Jack Turcotte was hired as an interim replacement on Jan. 26.

“They knew they were in a pickle, and they asked me if I could help,” said Turcotte in a phone interview.

Turcotte has a long history in school and municipal management, and served as the town manager in Old Orchard Beach for about two and a half years, ending in 2012.

More recently, Turcotte was a temporary start-up school administrator in Ellsworth as the city created a new school district.

Turcotte said while serving as interim town manager in Arundel, he is also serving as start-up school administrator for the Oxford County small town of Andover.

“I’m doing a little bit of everything,” he said.

Turcotte said as interim town manager, he’ll be working about four days a week to give him time to perform his duties

in Andover.

Turcotte said he is not vying for the position of permanent town manager. He said the town hopes to have a permanent manager hired in mid May.

The Arundel Town Manager Search Committee will host a public meeting on Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the library in Mildred L. Day School.

The committee is looking to gather information regarding what the community believes are the major issues and challenges, and also wants to know what background and experience a new town manager should possess, according to a notice from the committee.

The meeting will be facilitated by Don Gerrish from Eaton Peabody Consulting Group. Those unable to attend the meeting can email input to [email protected].

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].