PITTSFIELD — As the search for a new town manager continues in Pittsfield, Cornell Knight has been hired to fill the role on an interim, part-time basis, bringing 40 years of experience managing towns throughout Maine.

Knight is scheduled to begin the job Jan. 2.

Cornell Knight Photo courtesy of Cornell Knight

Deputy Mayor Jason Hall said the community is fortunate to have found such a qualified interim town manager.

Knight, 68, served previously in Bar Harbor, Hallowell, Jay, Orono and other communities. He was Farmington’s interim town manager in 2023.

“It’s very exciting,” Hall said. “Certainly happy to have the interim option that we have. (Knight is) obviously incredibly qualified. He’s done it a long time. Looking forward to having somebody like that come in and hold down the fort during the transition period.”

Jacob R. Gran, Pittsfield’s current town manager, submitted his resignation in October and is set to become the assistant town manager in Bucksport. Gran’s last day in Pittsfield is scheduled for Dec. 31. Gran was a little more than a year into his three-year contract when he accepted the position in Bucksport.

Knight is expected to serve until a full-time town manager is hired.

Gran’s 60-day notice gave the town time to put together a hiring committee, consisting of three Town Council members and two residents. Hall said the committee is reviewing candidates, conducting interviews and checking candidates’ references.

“It’s going pretty well,” Hall said. “We’ve had a lot of candidates, and some certainly good and qualified candidates. We’re still going through that process, and hopefully it won’t be too long of an interim stint, but you never know with those types of situations.”

Knight is expected to meet Monday with Gran for a briefing on the town. Knight said his plan is to keep progress moving in Pittsfield.

“Mostly, the idea is to just keep things moving along through the process,” Knight said. “Just staff when needed and handle complaints and that kind of thing, but really just keep things moving.”

Knight said he learned of the interim position from a contact at the Maine Municipal Association. He is to be paid $95 an hour and work 24 to 30 hours per week.

Gran’s starting salary as town manager was $95,000. Hall said the new town manager’s salary is expected to be between $95,000 and $120,000, depending on his or her qualifications.

“We increased the pay to be more competitive,” Hall said. “And we looked at a lot of different towns, and that range would certainly put us in a competitive position, and maybe even on the higher end of paying. We want to do that for the town manager, but then we want to assess all employee’s ranges and be competitive throughout the town.”

Although Knight lives in Bar Harbor, the town has worked with Maine Central Institute, a private academy in Pittsfield, to secure an apartment for when he stays in town. Hall said Knight also has access to free meals at the school’s cafeteria.

Hall said Knight’s years of experience can help the town identify and improve methods or processes that might be out of date.

“That’s really the thing, just kind of any improvements that we can make, as far as operationally, and then just manning the ship while we’re trying to find somebody new,” Hall said.