Joshua Reny, who serves as the town manager of Fairfield, has accepted the position of Assistant City Manager for South Portland, and is expected to begin there in late-September.

Reny will replace Jon Jennings, the former general manager of the Maine Red Claws basketball team who accepted a position as city manager of Portland earlier this summer.

The Fairfield Town Council recently accepted Reny’s resignation, according to a press release issued Wednesday. His last day of employment with Fairfield will be Sept. 18.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish these past few years. I’m leaving the town at a time of stability,” Reny said. “Town finances are healthier than they have been in years, we are no longer relying on short-term debt to cover our bills, and there has been a lot of progress made with various economic and community development projects.”

During the past five years the town’s general fund balance has grown by $1.7 million and the town has received more than $500,000 in grants for a variety of projects, according to the release. Several properties in the downtown have been redeveloped and some buildings have been razed to make way for new development or public spaces. The town has experienced revenue losses which have necessitated flat or reduced municipal budgets. This year’s budget is roughly $100,000 less than it was five years ago.

“Josh has brought the necessary energy and focus to the town at a time when it was needed and has left the town in good standing”, says Robert Sezak, chairman of the Fairfield Town Council. “He has particularly been of great assistance with the annual budget process, municipal building improvements and capital planning, and downtown revitalization.”