PITTSFIELD — A successor to longtime Town Manager Kathryn Ruth has been named following a search that spanned several months.
Jacob R. Gran, 26, has been named the town manager in Pittsfield. Photo courtesy of Jacob R. Gran
Jacob R. Gran, 26, who has been the town clerk and registrar of voters in Bucksport in Hancock County, is scheduled to begin his new job Sept. 25, working under the terms of a three-year contract.
His starting annual salary is $95,000.
Gran said in an interview his plans include modernizing municipal operations by improving Pittsfield’s social media presence and increasing technological efficiency.
“I’m looking forward to becoming more involved in the community and using what I have learned through my 6 1/2-year tenure in municipal government,” Gran said. “I want staff and residents to know that I am approachable and that my door is always open.”
The Pittsfield Town Council, which voted unanimously to hire Gran, believes he suits the town’s needs, given his experience handling government affairs and managing people, according to Mayor Michael A. Cianchette.
“He has a very professional approach and a calm demeanor,” Cianchette said, “along with ideas we hadn’t even considered implementing before.”
Pittsfield received more than 30 applications for the town manager’s position, with 10 candidates making it to the second round of interviews. Gran made the cut because of his logistical expertise, innovative ideas and push for modernizing documents, Cianchette said.
Gran began his career in government in 2019 as deputy town clerk for Winterport in Waldo County. He was later named the municipal town clerk in Bucksport, where he has worked for the past four years.
“I like the size of Pittsfield. I think its population size is one that interests me,” said Gran, whose wife, MacKenzie, is from the town. “We already have some relationships formed and some roots established here, and that was very appealing to me — to already be a little familiar with the community as a whole.”
As of the 2020 U.S. census, Pittsfield’s population was about 3,900 and Bucksport’s about 4,900.
Originally from Winterport, Gran’s professional experience mostly comes from his working for the Maine Town and City Clerks’ Association and serving on the advisory board of the Maine Municipal Association.
Ruth, who served as Pittsfield’s town manager for 21 years, is expected to serve as assistant town manager until the end of the year. Beginning in 2024, Ruth is expected to be appointed the town’s grants administrator until the end of the year, after which she plans to retire from municipal government.
Gran’s appointment comes as Pittsfield is about to begin the budgeting process for fiscal 2024.
Cianchette said he expects Ruth’s expertise will help Gran move smoothly into his new role.
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