Jack Clukey has begun as the town manager in Pittsfield. He was the town manager in Dover-Foxcroft for the past two decades, and spent 10 years before that as a town manager in Washington County. Photo provided by Jack Clukey.

PITTSFIELD — Jack Clukey began last Monday as the town manager in Pittsfield.

His contract is for 3 1/2 years, with a starting annual salary of $120,000.

Clukey succeeds Jacob R. Gran, who left the job in late December to become the assistant town manager in Bucksport.

Clukey was the town manager in Dover-Foxcroft, his hometown, for the past two decades, and spent 10 years before that as a town manager in Washington County.

He said it was never his intention to stay in one place for the rest of his career.

“I wanted to have a different opportunity to do a lot of the same type of work that I was able to do in Dover-Foxcroft, and Pittsfield is definitely that opportunity,” Clukey said. “There’s a lot of infrastructure work and community development work that’s in progress here, and so I really felt that it’d be a great fit for me. I’m glad to have this opportunity.”

After Gran left, Cornell Knight served as interim town manager until Clukey was appointed during a special Town Council meeting Jan. 28.

Clukey’s last day in Dover-Foxcroft, where he was paid $125,000 in his last year, was Feb. 1.

Cindy Freeman Cyr, chair of the Dover-Foxcroft Select Board, said Clukey built a wealth of institutional knowledge and wisdom during his decades as town manager.

“He’s been a fabulous town manager for us, and initiated a lot of really meaningful projects, and was always on the lookout for opportunities for Dover-Foxcroft,” Freeman Cyr said. “We’re sad to lose him.”

Clukey said he plans to continue living in Dover-Foxcroft and make the 35-mile drive to and from Pittsfield.

The Pittsfield Town Council held its regular meeting Wednesday, at which councilors heard an update on a project aimed at rebuilding roadways, improving drainage and building better sewer and water infrastructure along Birchwood Terrace.

The project has been in discussion since the COVID-19 pandemic. It has a final cost estimate of $5.8 million, almost half of which would reportedly be covered by a grant for water costs and a loan for sewer costs.

Mayor Jason Hall wrote in a text message that officials expect to figure out funding for the rest of the costs after the bids, which are expected to be lower than last Wednesday’s estimates, come back.

“The staff, the residents, the Town Council here have been very welcoming,” Clukey said. “The meeting was very informative, for me, about a major infrastructure project that it sounds like they’ve been working on for a while. It’s just been a great week, and off to a really good start.”

As costs for infrastructure projects, including the work on Birchwood Terrace, have risen significantly over the past few years, Clukey said he wants to help the town look for new ways to finance projects and reduce pressure on the tax base. He also said he intends to focus on improving the affordability and availability of housing in Pittsfield.

Clukey said he senses there is much positive energy in the community. He said he hopes to see projects come to completion, while the community seeks new opportunities for growth.

“Pittsfield’s a great location for business,” Clukey said. “We have a lot of space in our industrial park, and just a lot of opportunity for development, opportunity for more businesses and more activity in the industrial park. And just really excited to be a part of the future of Pittsfield.”