ORONO – The Orono Town Council spent two days this week conducting phone interviews with several candidates for the open town manager position left vacant in July.

“They did phone interviews with seven candidates,” acting Town Manager David Struck said Thursday. “The council did narrow down the field to four candidates that they’re going to proceed with in the next round of interviews.”

All four candidates soon will arrive in Orono to check out the town and meet local officials.

“Right now what they’re doing is trying to schedule for the end of September and maybe the first week of October to have them come to town,” Struck said.

The candidates will meet with town department heads, civic leaders and others during their visit.

Former Orono Town Manager Gerry Kempen served the community for more than 10 years before leaving his post July 3 to fill a similar position in Middleton, R.I.

“There was a national search” for a replacement, said Struck. “At least one of the candidates is from out of state.”

On Aug. 20 the council approved a job description for the town manager position. The council is looking for a manager who can fulfill a number of requirements, said Struck.

“They’re looking for a person with management skills, experience related to technical issues related to budgeting, funding, policy and procedural issues and a person who can assist the council to develop and formulate long-range objectives and programs in order to anticipate and address future needs,” he said.

Because the manager will work closely with the council, several department heads and other city officials, that person must be able to communicate well, Struck said.

“They’re very concerned about having someone with open communication to address community concerns,” he said.

Having an open-door policy, being a problem solver and holding senior-level management experience are other qualifiers for the position.

The council hopes to select a candidate by winter.