Kennebunk is expected to hire an executive search firm to help in the pursuit of a new town manager. Mike Pardue announced in January that he plans to retire in mid-November. Tammy Wells photo

KENNEBUNK – Kennebunk will look beyond Maine’s borders – perhaps beyond New England – to find the right person to take over as town manager later this year when Michael Pardue retires.

Meanwhile, select board Chair Blake Baldwin told the board at a recent meeting, the search to fill key positions in the fire and police departments is underway. Fire Chief Jeff Rowe and Deputy Police Chief Michael Nugent have recently announced they plan to retire mid-year.

Pardue, on Jan. 27, told a joint meeting of the select board and budget board that he plans to retire in November. He began his role as Kennebunk town manager in December 2016. His contract expires June 30, 2023, but as a proponent of succession planning, Pardue said he felt it was important a new town manager develop the next municipal budget.

“We’re in the process of locating three executive search firms to interview for the position of helping us discover candidates who would be interested in filling the town manager vacancy, ” said Baldwin, adding that a typical “headhunters” fee is a percentage of the first-year compensation and benefits of the position. He said during his former banking days, that tended to be between 20 and 30 percent.

“We’ll reach out to Maine Municipal Association, but we don’t feel at this time the MMA is the right group for us to find somebody that might be found outside the bounds of the state of Maine,” said Baldwin.

He proposed a March 1 workshop on the search process, which was scheduled as part of a broader session that includes climate action goals.

“Using a headhunter is a good idea,” said select board member Lisa Pratt. “There are at least 27 town manager positions available in Maine, so it is worth us putting our best effort forward in finding the best person.”

Nugent on Jan. 31 indicated he would retire from his job as deputy police chief on May 2. He was hired as Kennebunk’s deputy chief on Jan. 11, 2016, after serving 20 years with Westbrook Police Department.

Rowe on Feb. 3 announced he plans to retire June 24 after 45 years in the fire service. He has served as Kennebunk’s fire chief since May, 2014. Rowe served as fire chief in Sanford prior to his Kennebunk appointment.