A long-time Wayne resident who spent half a century serving on town boards and committees was honored by the Maine Municipal Association earlier this month.

Peter Ault, 83, a selectman in Wayne, said he’s grateful for the honor, but said there are many more people across the state who are equally or more qualified.

“I certainly appreciate the award, but I recognize that it was a team effort. Anything that I’ve been involved in that was a success has been a team effort,” Ault said.

Maine Municipal Association awarded Ault with the Ethel Kelley Memorial Award, its most prestigious award, at the municipal membership organization’s annual conference on Oct. 1, according to a release from the organization.

Ault, a retired civil engineer for the state, said he was surprised by the award and that he tends to keep a low profile. He’s been on the town’s Board of Selectmen for the last two years, and he said it remains to be seen whether he’ll go for another term when his term expires next year.

Ault’s community experience includes 45 years on the Cary Memorial Library board of trustees and 40 years on the Memorial Day Parade Committee. He also served for around two decades on the Conservation Committee, the Historical Committee and the board of the Androscoggin Lake Improvement Corporation, along with stints on the Budget Committee, Planning Board and as town treasurer.

Wayne Town Manager Aaron Chrostowsky wrote in his nomination for Ault that Ault first experienced community service as a young man when his mother served as a Wayne selectman and on the Cary Memorial Library board of trustees, according to the release.

“Peter is genuinely concerned about the welfare of the community,” Chrostowsky wrote. “He can be seen driving around town checking on road projects and attending community events — not just as a participant, but as an active volunteer.”

Peter Nielsen, who recently retired as Oakland’s town manager, also wrote in support of the nomination. Nielsen recalled his first experience with Ault — in the early 1990s when Nielsen applied to become Wayne’s town manager, according to the release. Ault drove many miles to meet Nielsen in person.

“Here was a selectman who would drive nearly an hour to recruit a candidate for a job in his town,” Nielsen wrote. “Little did I know we would remain friends for the 20-plus ensuing years.”

Paul Koenig — 621-5663

pkoenig@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @paul_koenig