LISBON — The Town Council has narrowed its town manager search to one finalist, interim Town Manager Dale Olmstead announced Thursday.
Olmstead, the former town manager of Freeport, said residents will have a chance to meet Diane Barnes, the manager of Calais, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Town Office.
“I have known Diane for 20 years,” Olmstead said. “I have worked with her on a lot of boards and committees. She was one of my top two picks for the job,” he said.
“I think she is a terrific match for Lisbon,” he added.
Members of the council have been interviewing candidates for the job for several weeks with the assistance of Don Gerrish, a consultant for Eaton Peabody. Gerrish is the former longtime town manager in Brunswick and now works for the law firm as a municipal consultant.
Lisbon has been without a full-time town manager since Jan. 6 when the council opted not to renew Steve Eldridge’s contract.
The council named Lisbon resident J. Michael Huston as interim manager on Jan. 7. However, within a matter of days, the council announced Huston would not continue in the position because he had been hospitalized. At that point, Police Chief David Brooks was named interim town manager until Olmstead was hired at the end of January.
Olmstead said Barnes was comfortable with releasing her name as the finalist, and has informed councilors in her city that she may be leaving.
After the hourlong session Tuesday night, Olmstead said the council will go into executive session to take a vote on whether to name her the new town manager.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
