HERMON – Wednesday’s meeting of the town council was quick and smooth. Councilors voted to buy heating oil, approved policies for out-of-town travel and collection of property taxes, and attended to other routine matters.

The council is moving forward after a difficult special meeting held Aug. 28 to discuss personnel issues with Town Manager Stephen Tuckerman.

The main point, Council Chairman Louis LaChance said Wednesday afternoon, was that councilors wanted Tuckerman to work on his “people skills.” They asked the manager to come back with a plan of action, and agreed to review things in 90 days.

Since that open discussion, LaChance added, “everything seems to be going great.”

Tuckerman said Wednesday afternoon that the situation was “a matter of communications,” and “nothing that was irresolvable.” Beyond that, he said he preferred not to comment.

Because it was a personnel matter, the situation could have been discussed in executive session. But Tuckerman himself asked that the Aug. 28 discussion be open to the public.

Minutes of the Aug. 28 meeting detail the discussion, including Councilor Meredith Young’s comments that while Tuckerman’s reviews contained many positive comments, they also specified areas needing improvement such as attitude toward the public and staff, and consultation with the council.

Councilor Anthony Smen, however, said he had observed improvement in the manager’s attitude throughout the current year.

The councilors and the manager discussed several examples of Tuckerman’s responses in particular situations, according to the minutes. The manager explained that on some of the occasions he had been expected to fill the role of code enforcement officer when that job was empty or the officer was not in. In two other instances, he said, he had snapped at staff members and wished he had handled things differently.

At the council’s Sept. 5 meeting, the manager presented the panel with the requested plan of action, including his recommendation for a council retreat to go over goals and expectations. Other communities use this process, Tuckerman explained, and the council agreed that he would work on setting up such a retreat.

Also at the Sept. 5 meeting, Councilor Andre Cushing resigned because his family is moving to Hampden. His term expires in June 2003.

An election to fill the unexpired term will be held Nov. 6. Nomination papers will be available Monday, and must be returned by Oct. 19. Candidates must obtain the signatures of 25-100 registered voters from Hermon.

In other business Wednesday, the council voted to contribute $500 to the New York World Trade Center Relief Fund to help those affected by last week’s terrorist attacks. Council members said they hoped the contribution would spur other towns and cities in Maine to make donations as well.

Councilors also approved a policy for collecting personal property taxes on recommendation of the town manager.

Accounts discussed included B&A Railroad, which leases personal property from General Electric Capital Corp., Tuckerman explained. He advised putting a lien on the personal property to prompt payment of the $11,000 owed.

In other business, the manager told the council that the former Big Hammond Campground property has been sold to Ray Wood, a builder.

LaChance asked what the zoning was on the property, and was told that part of it is commercial, and part industrial.

One staff position in town has been filled, Tuckerman said earlier Wednesday, and the process to fill another is under way.

Robin Fisher, a bookkeeper, has been hired as finance director replacing Michelle Clement, who left to take the job of assistant to the finance director in Brewer.

The town has again advertised the new position of full-time recreation director. The job was offered to an applicant who declined to take it. The deadline for the second round of applications was Tuesday, and a number were received, Tuckerman said.