Clinton Town Manager John Bellino at his office shortly after beginning in the position last September. He has announced his intention to leave the job. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel file
CLINTON — Town Manager John Bellino has announced he will step down after a year on the job.
Bellino said he is leaving the job due to the nearly 90-mile round-trip commute between Clinton and his house in the Gardiner area.
He said he is willing to continue working part time for the town and the distance from his home is “really the only reason” for his decision.
The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to advertise the opening to find Bellino’s successor. Applications for the position are due Nov. 1, and the intention is to have a new person in the job a month after that.
Since beginning as town manager last September, Bellino, who is paid an annual salary of $67,600, has helped form an economic development committee, worked on road repairs and continued with efforts to build a new fire station.
His predecessor as the Kennebec County town’s top administrator, Earla Haggerty, held the position for four years.
Bellino, 46, served previously as the fire chief in Richmond and taught paramedic training courses in Brunswick. He said he does not have another job lined up and is willing to help Clinton’s next town manager learn the role.
Clinton has had steady turnover with its town managers. In the early 1990s, residents voted to eliminate the position, but it was reestablished in 1999. The town at one point had eight people serve in the position over 11 years.
Clinton is not alone in seeing recent turnover at the town manager position. Winslow Town Manager Erica LaCroix has announced she is leaving the job to become the top administrator in Farmington. Jacob R. Gran was recently appointed the town manager in Pittsfield, succeeding Kathryn Ruth. And Denise Ducharme is now leading operations in Madison, after beginning the job in late August.
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