KENNEBUNK – Public Services Director Bryan Laverriere will act as interim town manager as Mike Pardue departs and the process for hiring a new town manager continues.
Laverriere was appointed to the role by the select board on Oct. 3. While there will be a transition period, his official duties as interim town manager begin Nov. 12, coinciding with Pardue’s retirement from Kennebunk after about seven years.
Laverriere’s service in this role is expected to remain in place until the board completes its hiring process for a new town manager, said Pardue.
Board chair Shiloh Schulte said the board received about 40 applicants for the town manager position as of the Sept. 28 deadline.
Kennebunk is working with Texas-based Strategic Government Resources, a national recruiting firm hired in June.
“The select board has reviewed the applicants and selected a smaller pool of semifinalists,” said Schulte in an email. “We will review responses from the semi-finalists later this month and move on to interviewing finalists in November.”
He said there is no specific target date to have a new town manager take office and said the board is focusing on finding the best person for the job. “Once we find the right person, we anticipate they will start the job in weeks, not months,” said Schulte.
He said he would usually speak only for himself and not for the entire select board but said in this case there was “unanimous and enthusiastic support” for the select board to appoint Laverriere for the interim position.
“We wanted someone who could work seamlessly with Mike to transition current projects and responsibilities and then would be in a position to work closely with a new town manager to make the process as seamless as possible,” said Schulte. “For that reason, we wanted to first look internally for someone who could fill that role. Bryan is universally respected and liked and has demonstrated his leadership abilities through excellent management of the public works department. Bryan’s team in public works is also stepping up to take on additional day-to-day responsibilities as Bryan takes on the new task. We are lucky to have him available and willing to step up and help during this transition period.”
Pardue said Laverriere will continue his role as public services director while serving as interim town manager, and noted two members of the public works leadership team will take n added duties and responsibilities as Laverriere turns more of his focus to the manager position.
“The two members of the public services leadership team that will be assuming additional duties will each receive an additional $150 per week stipend when Bryan moves into the (interim town manager) role,” said Pardue. “As Bryan and I begin our transition efforts, between now and Nov. 12, Bryan will receive a stipend of $300 weekly. Beginning Nov. 12, when Bryan assumes the (interim town manager) position, he will then receive a $700-per-week stipend.”
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