FAYETTE – Mark Robinson of New Gloucester began his duties as town manager this week.
Robinson was one of 20 applicants for the position. He served as recreation director for Windham for 16 years before coming to Fayette. He graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1989 and is a native of Falmouth.
Selectman Joe Young said officials were impressed with Robinson’s management experience and references.
“He has been highly recommended by his colleagues in Windham as having a diligent work ethic, for being a caring, open-minded person, and for having the ability to get to the heart of a problem and finding a solution,” Young said. “Robinson will make a positive change and be a tremendous asset to the town,” he added.
Robinson replaces interim Town Manager Briane Coulthard, who was appointed after Jim Collins resigned in June after nearly two years on the job. Collins was the fifth town official to resign since April, amid townspeople’s dissatisfaction with town financial matters.
During the annual town meeting in June, officials often disagreed about the amount and details of various town accounts and needed clarification. In addition, some account balances listed in the town report were incorrect due to what Collins said was a difference in the way the town and the town’s auditor handle the accounts. Fayette residents were unhappy about the responses to questions about the town’s financial affairs.
A group of 15 to 20 residents calling themselves Concerned Citizens for the Welfare of Fayette planned to look into the financial practices of the town.
Young, a member of the group, distributed a handout at the town meeting listing recommendations and findings of the state Department of Audit and Purdy Powers and Co. over the past three years. The handout asked residents to consider that state law requires the town treasurer to submit financial reports to selectmen at least every three months and that officials have not followed recommendations by the auditors.
Young said Robinson is looking forward to becoming a partner with the community in working through its accounting issues, developing a contingency plan should the Palesky property tax cap referendum pass, and promoting an open-door policy regarding town government affairs.
Robinson’s salary will be $48,400 a year, the same as Collins.
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