WINSLOW — Town officials are expected to hire resident Stephen Soucy for a three-year town manager term at a special Town Council meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Soucy, who owns Patriot Power Wash LLC, a power washing company in Winslow, ran for the District 2 council seat in November, losing to incumbent Dale Macklin by 116 votes.

Frances Hudson Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

The Town Council is expected to authorize council Chairwoman Frances Hudson to sign the three-year contract that will pay Soucy an annual salary of $95,000 for the first six months, increasing that to $100,000 following a six-month probationary period.

The 6 p.m. meeting will take place at Winslow Public Library, 136 Halifax St. It will not be televised.

The contract comes months after former town manager Ella Bowman stepped down in November, citing hostile rhetoric from residents and councilors. Before Bowman, Erica LaCroix served as town manager, resigning in 2023 to take a top administrative role in Farmington.

On March 26, the town held a special meeting to enter executive session for personnel matters, specifically “town manager interviews.” The vote to enter executive session failed. Councilors could be heard yelling at each other minutes into the meeting, which no members of the public attended.

Hudson said in a March 25 email the next town manager was recommended by the Maine Municipal Association, a membership nonprofit organization which partners with municipalities and offers fee-based services like executive searches and background checks.

“All candidates were recommended by MMA,” Hudson said March 25. “We anticipate naming a town manager within a week.”

Thursday’s meeting agenda is the first public notice of Soucy’s contract. Hudson said residents will have an opportunity to express their opinions about the possible appointment.

“There’s no public notice required to appoint a town manager,” Hudson said, “but for transparency reasons, there will be sufficient, advanced notice given to the public for them to be able to weigh in, if they so choose.”

At a heated April 2024 meeting, Soucy spoke in opposition to Winslow’s school budget, arguing it could increase property taxes. Hudson, Mike Joseph and Adam Lint — all first-time councilors appointed in 2023 — voted down the school budget. Voters ultimately approved it by a 17-point margin.

During his council campaign Soucy said his priorities were fiscal responsibility, transparency and public education.

“I focus on looking forward, not in the rear-view mirror,” Soucy wrote in a 2024 text message. “I do not mind getting my hands dirty and I get deep into the weeds and ask tough questions.”