MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council, meeting in special session Thursday, approved a contract with Mitchell Berkowitz as interim town manager.
The former Bridgton town manager has served as an interim manager for a number of communities in Maine and New Hampshire since retiring in 2014.
His contract runs until Sept. 30 or until a full-time town manager is found for the town of 2,979 residents.
Berkowitz is also in charge of looking for a full-time manager. He said the search will begin immediately.
The council authorized spending $3,000 for advertising.
Berkowitz succeeds Zakk Maher of Poland who submitted his resignation on April 1.
In the June 8 municipal elections, Councilor Tarsha Downing and newcomer Darrell Young are running for two council seats for three-year terms.
Seeking a two-year council seat are appointed Councilors Paula Stotts and Raymond Lavoie. Stotts was appointed in April, succeeding Chairman Kieth Bennett, who resigned this year. Lavoie was appointed in August 2020 after the resignation of Nick Konstantoulakis.
The council will appoint a successor to John Emery’s seat in a special session June 21. Emery resigned in April and passed away April 20. Due to state requirements, his vacancy could not be included on the June 8 ballot.
Residents interested in serving the remaining year of Emery’s term have until June 15 to apply.
Applications can be obtained from the town clerk.
Others on the June 8 ballot are Mark Gary for one of two seats for three years on the Sanitary District and Patricia Irish for one of two seats for three years the Regional School Unit 16 board of directors.
Voters will also decide on the proposed municipal budget of $3.02 million for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The amount is $133,000, or 4.4%, less than this fiscal year that ends June 30.
The budget includes county taxes but not the town’s share for RSU 16, which also includes Poland and Minot
The school district’s budget will be a separate referendum ballot June 8.
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