HALLOWELL — A week before he was likely to be hired, Hallowell’s top city manager candidate accepted a different job, and the search process could restart.

On Tuesday, Denmark Town Manager Daniel Merhalski told the city about the job and backed out of consideration, which Hallowell Mayor Mark Walker called “a disappointment.” No formal offer had been made, but terms had been discussed and Merhalski was set to meet with the city staff before council considered hiring him at a July 13 meeting.

“It was as close to a done deal as you can get, but it wasn’t done and now it’s undone,” said Councilor George Lapointe, who chaired the search committee.

In a statement, Merhalski said that Hallowell was “until recently my first choice,” but he got a late offer from another municipality after a Thursday interview with Walker. He said he accepted it on Monday, calling it a situation “where I could best utilize my skills and find professional satisfaction.” He wouldn’t say where that job was because the city or town hasn’t publicized it.

“There was nothing about Hallowell that was detrimental or gave me pause in considering it,” Merhalski said, “nor was there any issue with my application, references or prior work history.”

Lapointe said the committee unanimously backed Merhalski after 10 people applied and three were interviewed. Now, Lapointe said, the committee will decide within a few days whether it will reopen the search process. It took about two months from the time the job was posted to finish interviews.

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Before Merhalski’s withdrawal from consideration, city officials said he would come aboard in September and train for two weeks with City Manager Michael Starn, who plans to retire in early October.

Perhaps the biggest issue looming over Hallowell’s future is the former Stevens School, the 64-acre complex off Winthrop Street with many vacant, historic buildings that the state is preparing to sell to developers.

Merhalski has more than 10 years of municipal experience in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Michigan, including a stint as a planner in Salem, Massachusetts. Hallowell officials said he would have been well-suited for the job.

“It is a disappointment,” Walker said. “I think he probably would have been a good candidate and brought a different skill set.”

Michael Shepherd — 370-7652

mshepherd@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @mikeshepherdme


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