WISCASSET — Wiscasset selectmen have picked John O’Connell of Boothbay Harbor as their new interim town manager.
“I’m looking forward to working with the board of selectmen,” O’Connell told the selectmen Tuesday night. “I’m looking forward to working with the community and for the community. Lots of things to do. No chance of being bored.”
O’Connell has reportedly served as a Lincoln County commissioner and is a former Boothbay Harbor selectman
This will not be O’Connell’s first time working with the town. He served previously as an interim town manager more than 20 years ago.
O’Connell’s first day on the job will be Feb. 4.
O’Connell will be replacing outgoing Town Manager Marian Anderson, who announced earlier this month that she had accepted the town manager position in the Aroostook County town of Houlton. Houlton told The Times Record previously that she and her husband had been looking to move north for some time and couldn’t pass on the opportunity.
According to Selectmen Chair Judy Colby, Anderson’s last day will be Feb. 1, making Wednesday night’s meeting her final meeting as town manager.
Colby said that the selectmen had enough on their plate at the moment and would be taking their time in starting the hunt for a new town manager.
“The board met. We had a good, healthy discussion amongst us. We will, at some point be advertising for a town manager, but we’re taking it slow. There are things right now that are on the burner that we have to concentrate on,” she said.
Colby cited the town’s comprehensive plan, budget process and union negotiations as reasons that the selectmen did not have time at the moment to undergo an extensive hiring process for a town manager.
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