ALFRED — Former York County Manager Richard Brown, who came out of retirement as a consultant when York County government was in financial difficulties ”“ and who was later hired as manager ”“ has died.

Brown, 74, most recently lived in Ocean Park and was a winter resident of Florida, where he died April 11.

Brown served as Town Manager in a number of locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire before moving to Maine, where he served as Town Manager in South Berwick for about 10 years.

A Republican, he served two terms in the Maine House of Representatives for North Berwick and part of South Berwick, and was a member of the Legislature’s Legal and Veteran’s Affairs Committee.

Brown arrived at York County government in 2007 as a consultant, hired to help manage a financial crisis. He was appointed interim County Manager in early 2008, when then-manager David Adjutant was on medical leave, and was appointed manager in July of that year after Adjutant resigned.

Brown resigned as county manager in 2011 but stayed on for a time, as a part-time assistant for special projects, until December 2013.

York County Commissioners Chairwoman Sallie Chandler said she and Brown got along exceptionally well during the years he served as the county’s manager. She noted his “Type A” personality, and that he could be feisty. But, she said, they could always talk about issues and come to a conclusion ”“ the same conclusion ”“ on how to proceed, even though they may have approached the issue from different perspectives.

“For all his gruffness,” Brown had a soft side, Chandler recalled.

Visiting hours are 5”“8 p.m. Friday at Cote Funeral Home, Saco, followed by a funeral 11 a.m. Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco

and Biddeford.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324”“4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282”“1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].