SACO — On Friday, Saco’s city administrator announced in an email that he was retiring.

The short and succinct email from Richard “Rick” Michaud addressed to the city’s mayor and council stated he was resigning to care for his wife.

In addition, he stated he would like to waive the required 60 day notice for his resignation and “to end the employment agreement immediately.”

Michaud did not state when his last day would be.

He was not available for comment at his office when telephoned Friday afternoon but his assistant said she expected him in on Monday.

Regarding the email, “I was surprised to see it,” said Mayor Don Pilon by telephone Friday. “He needs to do what’s best for his family.”

The notice was well-timed. Pilon said on Monday the council was scheduled to discuss getting a legal opinion from the Maine Municipal Association regarding the validity of Michaud’s current contract, which ends Jan. 30, 2017.

Michaud had previously tendered his resignation in June 2014, and said he would retire effective Dec. 31 of that year.

Then in August, after negotiating with the City Council, he signed a two-year contract that began Feb. 1. Michaud signed up for retirement benefits with the Maine Public Employees Retirement System and did not work the month of January.

Pilon said he believed that contract wasn’t valid. He said negotiations between the council and Michaud were conducted in executive session at a meeting that he had previously told the council he would be unable to attend.

Michaud’s announcement should put this issue to bed.

Moving forward in finding a new city administrator, said Pilon, the council could “resurrect the template from last year” that was created to find a replacement for Michaud.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf contributed to this report.

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