A Farmingdale man with experience in town government on islands in Hancock and Cumberland counties will take over as town manager in Readfield.

Eric W. Dyer, 36, was appointed to the post by the Readfield Select Board effective Thursday.

“I’m very excited to be here,” Dyer said Thursday afternoon from the Town Office. “It’s a wonderful community, a very pretty place. I really enjoy the rural character, the lakes and the farms. From looking at the community calender, I can see it’s a community that’s really active in its own destiny.”

He said it’s obvious residents care about the community and want it to succeed.

According to a news release sent by Select Board member Bruce Bourgoine, Dyer has worked as a facilities supervisor for Cranberry Isles from 2008 to 2010 and as a town administrator for Chebeague Island from 2010 to 2015. He has a bachelor of science degree in natural resources from the University of Maine in Orono and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of California, Irvine.

Most recently, Dyer worked briefly as general manager of the Gardiner Food Co-op and Cafe.

Bourgoine said earlier that the manager’s post will be full-time. Originally the town had advertised the position as either part-time or full-time.

Valarie Pomerleau, chairwoman of the board, said nine applicants had sought the position and hiring Dyer was a unanimous decision by the board.

“He was the best applicant for the job, and he had most of the things we were looking for in a manager,” she said Thursday. “We are so pleased.”

Dyer will work under a one-year contract that calls for a $56,500 salary. He also will receive full health benefits and 15 personal days a year, Pomerleau said.

She said she met with him for two hours Thursday morning on his first day on the job.

“I think it’s the best thing that happened to Readfield,” she said. “He’s very personable and holds himself accountable. I just think he is what we have been looking for.”

Readfield town officials have scheduled an informal open house from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 17 at the Town Office in Asa Giles Hall on Old Kents Hill Road so residents can meet Dyer.

Dyer said he is scheduled to close on a home in Readfield later this month.

“I enjoy living where I work,” he said.

He is married and has two children — a son, 3, and a daughter, 13 months.

Readfield’s former town manager, Stefan Pakulski, left the job in February under an arrangement negotiated with town officials that called for him to be paid through July 30. He had been town manager there since 2003.

In the meantime, Teresa Shaw, the town’s finance manager, stepped in as interim town manager.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

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