WINDHAM — The Town Council will re-open its search for a town manager in January in order to “go back out and get a larger pool of candidates.”

After reviewing applications in an executive session Dec. 4, the Town Council decided “they won’t interview anybody from the group right now,” interim town manager Don Gerrish said.

Councilor Timothy Nangle called the current group of candidates “pretty limited” and said he didn’t think “we had enough good candidates that were on an equal level that we could compare against.”

While Gerrish said there were a few strong applicants, the search “didn’t get the numbers we normally get.”

Eaton Peabody, the consulting group conducting the search for a new manager, received 18 applications for the position. Gerrish had previously said he expected to receive between 25 and 30.

Windham is seeking a new town manager after Tony Plante left the position with a $175,000 severance package in October, following turmoil on the council after then-Chairwoman Donna Chapman told the Lakes Region Weekly that Plante should either retire or face a possible firing. Plante’s departure angered many residents, who felt he was forced out.

Nangle believes Plante’s departure affected the number of applications the council received.

“Unfortunately, I think because of what happened to Tony, I think there are a lot of town managers who might be looking for a move, but they aren’t jumping into this snake pit,” he said.

He continued, “Some members of the council blamed the manager for everything in the past, and once we do hire a new manager, who are they going to blame?”

The town had planned to interview candidates next week and name a new manager the week of Jan. 14-17. An updated timeline has not yet been released.

Nangle would like to be able to compare three good candidates who are on equal footing, but he doubts the council will receive better candidates in the new round of applications.

“I’m not really confident, but from my perspective, I feel like we owe it to the citizens that we’re gonna do the best we can in consideration of the circumstances,” he said.

He would also like Eaton Peabody to be more flexible with its search process, saying the consulting group “is probably very good at what they do, but they also have a very set process. We need to discuss how to change that up a little bit.”

Chapman said she is looking for a candidate who is focused on “community, water quality, somebody with a little environmental concern as well.”

Council Chairman Clayton Haskell said he did not know when the application process will be reopened or if the town will receive stronger applicants.

When asked why he thought the town had received fewer applicants than expected, he said “I really don’t know. There’s lots of towns with new managers. I have no idea why or what took place.”

Council Vice Chairwoman Rebecca Cummings declined to comment.

Jane Vaughan can be reached at 780-9103 or at jvaughan@keepmecurrent.com.

Interim Town Manager Don Gerrish at a Town Council meeting in October.