Bath City Manager Bill Giroux announced Wednesday that he will be stepping down from his position, effective July 6. Giroux has been city manager since 2006, an 11-year run.

Giroux said Thursday that it was “time for a change,” and that the past 11 years have been “fun, but nonstop.”

“I put my heart and soul into this job, and had a lot of fun while I was at it,” said Giroux. “But for a while now I’ve been wanting to travel, and I think this is a better time than ever to make this change.”

Giroux previously worked as Bowdoinham’s town manager and has more than 30 years experience in government service.

Giroux, 57, said he will not be retiring, but rather plans to travel for a year.

Giroux said that the city council will most likely hire an interim city manager while they search for his permanent replacement.

“We have a great city council, and I know they’ll find the right person for the job,” Giroux said.

Giroux cited the city’s steady growth since he’s been in office, including multiple hotels, a medical office building and upgrades at Bath Iron Works.

“We’re well on our way to a new high school, too, and the riverwalk is in a full engineering phase now,” said Giroux, citing the planned construction along the Kennebec River in downtown Bath that will bring a new walkway and new restaurants and shops to the city. “Bath has a bright future, and it’s a good time for me to exit. No one is telling me to. It’s just my time.”

bgoodridge@timesrecord.com

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