The Cape Elizabeth Town Council announced Thursday that it has chosen Matt Sturgis, the town’s tax assessor, to be the new town manager.

The council and Sturgis have reached a tentative agreement to enter into a three-year contract with a starting annual salary of $110,000, said council Chairman Jamie Garvin.

Sturgis, who has worked for the town for 16 years, will replace Mike McGovern, who retired at the end of December after nearly four decades on the job. His annual salary was $123,000.

Sturgis, who lives in Gray and is chairman of the Gray Town Council, is expected to resign from the council seat he has held for a total of 12 years. Sturgis also is tax assessor in neighboring Scarborough, a position he will leave, as well.

Sturgis was selected from 38 applicants from across the country following a five-month search. Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak was the other finalist.

Garvin said Sturgis offered a combination of experience with the town, enthusiasm for the community and vision for its leadership that set him apart from other highly qualified candidates.

“Matt is very familiar with the town, its priorities and its citizens,” Garvin said. “He has the ability to hit the ground running. But we didn’t turn to him as the easy choice. Ultimately, he had the skills and experience that made him the right fit for the town. It’s the start of a new era for Cape Elizabeth.”

The council will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. to formally appoint Sturgis and vote on the contract.

Sturgis, 48, credited McGovern with providing a fine example of municipal leadership that he intends to follow and build on, especially in maintaining positive working relationships with town employees and residents.

“Mike was and is a great manager and an outstanding gentleman to work with,” Sturgis said. “I had the opportunity to learn from him and share a lot of characteristics with him.”

Sturgis said McGovern demonstrated the benefits of taking a patient approach and getting a good understanding of issues so the council can make the best decisions for the town. McGovern also showed him the importance of being a good listener and a good communicator.

Sturgis grew up in New Gloucester, where his family goes back five generations. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and political science from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He’s married and has two daughters.

Sturgis said he’ll miss serving as a town councilor in Gray, a position he sought to promote the best interests of the community.

“Hopefully, people think I’ve done the job well,” Sturgis said.

About half-way through a three-year term, Sturgis said he expects the Gray Town Council will appoint someone to replace him through the coming spring, then hold an election to fill the last year of his term.

Sturgis was a property appraiser for the city of Auburn for several years before coming to work in Cape Elizabeth. He said he hopes Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough will continue to share an assessor’s position.

Sturgis is scheduled to start his new duties as town manager on Jan. 30.

Copy the Story Link