Houlton names interim manager Former town official to return

HOULTON – Town councilors didn’t have to use anything more than their own memories when it came to appointing an interim manager Tuesday evening.

Despite the objections of one councilor, the council agreed to appoint Phil McCarthy, who was town manager in Houlton from 1981 to 1986. McCarthy is retired and lives in Kittery, according to Town Manager Peggy Daigle.

Daigle, who resigned early last week to become city manager in Old Town, contacted McCarthy on her own.

McCarthy is expected to meet with the council in the coming weeks.

The council’s move was a departure from recent practice, when Town Clerk Cathy O’Leary has served until a new manager is selected. Daigle said she felt that the number of projects made it too daunting for the clerk to hold two posts.

“We’ve got so many projects going on right now,” Daigle told councilors. “Cathy is going to be run ragged. It is just too much for her to do two jobs.”

Daigle said that McCarthy has served on various committees with her and called him “one of the sharpest town managers I know.”

Councilor Kent Good called the idea of appointing McCarthy a “no brainer.” Councilor Gerald Adams agreed, and commended Daigle for contacting him.

The only objection came from Councilor Phil Bernaiche, who recalled McCarthy’s tenure and strongly opposed the appointment. Bernaiche also felt the group should advertise for Daigle’s temporary replacement.

“If you want to be sincere, you advertise,” Bernaiche said. “You don’t get a self-pick from the town manager.”

In terms of finding Daigle’s permanent replacement, councilors staged a lengthy debate on Tuesday evening over who should sit on the search committee. The group eventually decided that only councilors and the interim manager will be part of the process.

Councilors opted to pay the Maine Municipal Association $4,500 to assist them in the operation and agreed with Chairman Dale Flewelling’s suggestion that all councilors sit on the committee. Some members also suggested appointing town employees, department heads and residents to the group.

“I recommend that a couple of town employees be a part of it,” Councilor Paul Cleary said. “They will have to work with this person on a daily basis. We won’t.”

Councilor John Fitzpatrick suggested that “it wouldn’t hurt” to make all of the department heads a part of the process. That idea was not well received.

“No way. We’ll have a circus,” Adams told councilors. “Bigger is not better in this case … You are going to run into major problems if you saturate this committee with people.”

Good told Fitzpatrick, “My only objection is that it puts town employees in the terribly awkward position of hiring their own boss.”

Cleary, who was on the council when Daigle was hired, said that three residents participated in her hiring. Dorothy Donahue, who was also on the council when the manager was hired three years ago, told the board that no town employees took part in that process.

Flewelling said that having every councilor participate in the process would help ensure their full support for whoever was chosen for the job. Cleary disagreed.

“If you’re looking for a 6-0, ‘I love your neighbor vote,’ I don’t think it’s going to happen with the council,” Cleary said.