BAR HARBOR — A former town manager of five other Maine towns, who resigned from his last job earlier this year to move to Washington, D.C., has been picked to become Bar Harbor’s top municipal administrator.

In a prepared statement released last week, Bar Harbor officials announced they decided to hire Cornell F. Knight as town manager. Knight, who is in his late 50s, has been town manager in Baileyville, Hallowell, Jay, Winthrop and, most recently, Topsham. Knight resigned in March from the Topsham position in order to move to Washington D.C., where his wife, Kay Rand, has been working as chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Angus King.

In the statement, Bar Harbor’s seven-member elected town council indicated it plans to vote on a three-year agreement with Knight at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Knight is expected to start work Oct. 1 with a starting annual salary of $104,000.

“Mr. Knight is a highly respected Maine manager and brings over 32 years of professional municipal experience to the position,” Bar Harbor officials wrote in the release.

Knight was one of two finalists for the job who met with local officials and residents last month. In 2012, he received the Linc Stackpole Manager of the Year award from the Maine Town, City and County Manager’s Association.

Attempts to contact Knight on Monday were unsuccessful.

Paul Paradis, chairman of the Bar Harbor Town Council, said Monday that he called a lot of people in towns where Knight has worked and all gave “glowing reviews” of Knight. He said Knight’s contract will require him to move to Bar Harbor.

“They spoke very highly of him,” Paradis said. “We’re excited about him.”

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