NORRIDGEWOCK — The Board of Selectmen voted Wednesday night to contract with the Maine Municipal Association in its search for a new town manager.

Current Town Manager Michelle Flewelling said last week that she will be leaving to work as town manager in Fairfield beginning in December. She said Wednesday that her first day in Fairfield is scheduled to be Dec. 1, although Fairfield is flexible about sharing her while Norridgewock searches for a replacement.

Selectmen voted 4-0 to spend $4,900 for the Maine Municipal Association’s assistance in the search process. Selectman Jim Lyman was absent.

The cost covers a needs assessment, the development of a rating document for reviewing resumes, assistance with the review of resumes, assistance with interviews, background checks and help in making a job offer and negotiating a contract with selected candidates.

“With our time constraints and what it would take to do in-house, I think going with the MMA is the best way to simplify the process and get it done quickly,” Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Matt Everett said.

He said the input of residents still will be important in selecting a town manager and selectmen still will have the final say about who is hired.

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Other board members agreed that it would help streamline the process to use the help of the MMA, although Selectwoman Sallie Wilder said she thought the cost was high compared to what the board could do themselves.

“It is a lot of money, but on the other hand we want to make sure the process is done legally and done right,” Chairman Ron Frederick said.

Flewelling, who has been town manager since 2008, was offered the job in Fairfield last week. Her departure follows recent controversies with the board of sewer commissioners as well as a petition asking the Board of Selectmen not to renew her contract when it expires in December.

Flewelling has said that her decision to accept the Fairfield job was unrelated to the controversy with the sewer commissioners, which included an attempt to hold an illegal executive session to discuss her performance and one meeting in which the commissioners voted not to allow her to speak.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board also approved transferring the duty of Bureau of Motor Vehicles agent from Flewelling to Office Clerk Sharon Dodge.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm


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