SACO — The city hopes to have a new administrator in place by September.

Previous City Administrator Richard “Rick” Michaud resigned last week to care for his wife. Finance Director Cheryl Fournier is currently serving as the interim.

City councilors, in a discussion led by consultant Michael Wing, discussed a plan to hire a replacement for Michaud. Wing has been hired by the city to facilitate the hiring process.

A job advertisement will go out this week in listings with the Maine Municipal Association, International City/County Management Association, Jobs in Maine, and municipal associations for Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Applications will be collected for three weeks, and the council will review resumes at a special council meeting on June 22.

Mayor Don Pilon and city councilors discussed what qualifications they wanted in a new city administrator.

Pilon said he wanted someone who was familiar with state politics and comfortable working in “the state arena.” He also said the city administrator needed to be “a team player,” and someone who understands what’s best for the city.

Councilor Kevin Roche said he would like someone familiar with the Army Corps of Engineering, as the city will be working with the Corps on river dredging and erosion offsetting projects.

Roche also noted the recent visioning process the city underwent, and said the new city administrator needs to be aware of the goals that came out of the process.

There was brief discussion on salary requirements and whether the candidate should live in Saco.

Michaud made about $121,000 plus benefits that included a car. “Rick worked 15 years to get where he is,” said Councilor David Precourt, and said he didn’t want someone new to the position to get the same salary and perks package.

Saco may be competing with neighboring Biddeford for someone new to administer city government. Biddeford City Manager John Bubier announced in March that he was stepping down from his post to work 30 hours a week in the city’s Economic Development office. The Biddeford council is in the process of looking for someone to replace Bubier as city manager.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribunecom.