NEW GLOUCESTER – The New Gloucester Board of Selectmen’s favored candidate for the open town manager position has backed out of negotiations, according to Selectman Josh McHenry.

“We were not able to come to an employment agreement with our top candidate,” McHenry said last week. “As far as I know, it was their own personal decision.”

The search for a new manager, which is into its fourth month, will continue, according to longtime Town Planner Paul First, who the selectmen unanimously appointed as acting town manager at an emergency meeting last Thursday.

On Oct. 14, the former town manager, Sumner Field, announced his retirement from the town office effective Jan. 2. By late December, the selectmen had not yet hired a replacement, and the board voted on Dec. 26 to retain Field until Feb. 14.

After nearly five years as New Gloucester’s manager, Field formally retired at 2 p.m. on Feb. 14.

In an email sent last week to town staff, Chairman Steve Libby wrote that the selectmen’s negotiations with the top candidate had failed. Libby did not return calls for further comment.

“On behalf of the Board of Selectman I regret to announce that negotiations with our top candidate for town manager have not resulted in a mutually acceptable employment agreement,” Libby wrote. “We started with 64 applications, had great first-round interviews, invited four citizens to assist with second-round interviews and had a great candidate that unfortunately just didn’t work out.”

According to Deputy Town Clerk Sharlene Myers, the selectmen also appointed First as acting town clerk, acting tax collector, acting treasurer, acting road commissioner, acting welfare administrator, and acting freedom of access act officer, positions that were all previously held by Field.

In an interview, First said that he will continue his duties as the town’s planner, as well.

“We’re still working on the Upper Village master planning and the New Gloucester Water District, trying to get construction completed so that we’re open for business July 1,” First said regarding the two major projects that are transforming the Upper Village commercial district. “I’m prioritizing with regard to what I feel is most important.”

On Tuesday, First said that his work life was “busy.”

“My job is to make sure that things proceed smoothly, and that the town’s needs are met, until we have a permanent town manager,” First said. “I’m just keeping my nose to the grindstone and doing my best to get the work done, and make sure we all work together as a team. I have a lot of confidence in our department heads and all the town staff. We have a very highly experienced staff, and I’ll be relying on them.”

First also said that the selectmen may seek to hire an interim town manager.

“I’m pleased to serve,” First said. “I’ll do everything I can to serve the community during this interim period, which may be short. I don’t know the length of time at this point, but I’m expecting that it will be short.”

Paul First