WINDHAM — After months of searching, Windham has selected a finalist for its town manager position.

John Mauro lives in New Zealand but is a Maine native who grew up in Auburn.

Of the 21 applications the town received for the position, Town Councilor Jarrod Maxfield said Mauro is “the only finalist. He’s the only person we brought back” after initial interviews.

Windham has been searching for a new town manager since October 2018 when then-Town Manager Tony Plante left with a $175,000 severance package amid turmoil on the council about his job performance.

Plante was replaced by interim Town Manager Don Gerrish, and the Town Council had originally expected to appoint a permanent new manager in January.

After advertising the position in November and receiving only 18 applications, the town decided to reopen the application process later.

Gerrish has said he will remain in the position through June, after the budget is adopted.

Mauro graduated from Edward Little High School and received a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Middlebury College in Vermont, according to a press release distributed by the town.

He is now the chief sustainability officer for the Auckland Council in New Zealand, and Maxfield said the logistics of his transfer, if he were to be selected for and accept the town manager position, have yet to be determined.

The town is hosting a gathering for Mauro on June 20, when the public is invited to meet him. The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 8 School Road.

On Friday, June 21, Mauro will tour the town’s municipal facilities, meet employees and be interviewed by the town’s department heads. The council will conduct an additional interview with him that evening and anticipates reaching a final decision the following week, according to the press release.

Maxfield said he was “very impressed” by Mauro.

“I think he has a lot of qualities that would benefit Windham. He is by far the best person who we have interviewed,” he said. “It’s important for Windham to get somebody up in the driver’s seat and moving forward.”

Town Council Chairman Clayton Haskell and Council Vice Chairwoman Rebecca Cummings could not be reached for comment by the Lake Region Weekly’s print deadline.

Jane Vaughan can be reached at 780-9103 or at jvaughan@keepmecurrent.com.

Don Gerrish has been serving as Windham’s interim town manager since October 2018.

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