PORTLAND — The April 10 appointment of Heather Brown as assistant city manager is only part of what is expected to be an active year for municipal appointments.

The city is still searching for a new permanent police chief and a director for its Health & Human Services Department.

Brown, a Windham native who has worked for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, replaces Michael Sauschuck, who left in January to become the state commissioner of Public Safety.

Sauschuck was police chief before becoming assistant city manager in August 2018. He was replaced by Vern Malloch as acting police chief. City spokeswoman Jessica Grondin said April 10 the application period for the jobs has closed.

The application period for a new Health & Human Services director to replace Dawn Stiles ends Friday, April 19. Stiles announced her resignation on Jan. 11; her last day was March 7.

Kristen Dow was named interim department director.

Last month, the city appointed Sara Fleurant as director of the Oxford Street Shelter. She replaces Rob Parritt, who stepped aside last October.

Also last month, the city hired a new director for information technology and filled the new position of innovation and performance management director.

Hanna Pickering will lead the IT Department, replacing Dan Boutilier, who retired after 30 years of working at City Hall.

Lena Geraghty was named the innovation and performance management director, a position created earlier this year in lieu of the second assistant city manager position approved in the current budget.

Mona Bector served less than three months as assistant city manager, from the end of May 2018 to early August.

Changes also came to the Planning Department earlier this year as Planning Director Tuck O’Brien left in January. In his stead, Christine Grimando was named deputy planning & urban development director.

David Harry can be reached at 780-9092 or dharry@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.

Heather Brown