BRUNSWICK — Town administrators eliminated an assistant town clerk position this month to free funds to hire a new assistant town manager for nearly $86,000.

Town Manager John Eldridge announced Dec. 7 that the town had hired Derek Scrapchansky, a former U.S. Navy commander who was stationed for two years at the Brunswick Naval Air Station, as its new assistant town manager.

The position had been unfilled and not budgeted since 2009, when then-Assistant Town Manager Gary Brown became the interim town manager.

The position was not included in the 2015-2016 municipal budget.

Eldridge in an email said his office eliminated the assistant town clerk’s position to fund the administrative post.

The town budgeted $33,500 and $42,500 for two assistant town clerks in the most recent budget.

The town website now just lists one person, Susan Karnes, in the position.

Eldridge said there will need to be “other” budget adjustments as well to fully fund Scrapchansky’s $85,700 salary.

In an interview Tuesday, Town Council Chairwoman Sarah Brayman said she was “happy the town manager found a way to bring back the position … even in these tight budget times.”

“I believe we need additional research, analysis, and management skills to run the municipal side of things,” Brayman said, adding that the new position will help the “council in doing its business in an informed and timely fashion.”

She also said she has been “very impressed” by Scrapchansky. She said that with a military background outside of municipal government, “he brings a fresh view to Town Hall, and I think he will be a great benefit.”

Walter Wuthmann can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or wwuthmann@theforecaster.net. Follow Walter on Twitter: @wwuthmann.