Transition time is at hand in the Pownal Town Office, as the deputy clerk will retire at the end of the year and the administrative assistant – the top position in small towns such as Pownal – wants to step down as soon as someone can be trained to take his job.

Ahead of the curve in finding replacements for the top two positions in the town office, the Pownal Board of Selectmen has come with a plan. The town has posted a full-time clerk position in hopes of replacing the retiring Rose Napolitano.

The hope is that Napolitano’s successor can work under Adminisrative Assistant Scott Seaver. Seaver would like to leave the position within a year, according to Tim Giddinge, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

Giddinge said that taking Napolitano’s job could be a good career move for the right person.

“It’s an opportunity for clerk in another town who is stuck and can’t get anything higher to come over and learn from Scott,” Giddinge said. “The main thing is, we’re looking for someone with municipal experience, so we don’t have to start from zero.”

Seaver, 64, who lives in New Gloucester, has been administrative assistant in Pownal for five years. By the time he leaves his job, perhaps in December 2017, Seaver will be of retirement age.

“It was kind of my idea to do the transition this way,” Seaver said Monday. “I think it works for everybody.”

Seaver also has held the position of administrative assistant in North Yarmouth, where Napolitano was working under him, and at Chebeague Island. Napolitano, of North Yarmouth, who has been in the Pownal Town Office for two years, works a 32- to 40-hour week, considered full time.

“Scott is kind of open but he would like to be done in a year,” Giddinge said. “We don’t want to lose two experienced people at the same time. We want to have someone come in for a year and work with Scott and learn how town business is done here, and than make the transition.”

A shakeup is in the mix at the Pownal Town Office, as Scott Seaver, the administrative assistant, and Rose Napolitano, have announced plans to retire.