DEXTER – Town Manager Judy Doore submitted her resignation Thursday to take a job at Maine Municipal Association in its risk management services department.

Her resignation came after she and the council held an evaluation review. Doore said she had been given goals at an earlier evaluation, and she responded to those goals Thursday night during the review.

Doore, who took the Dexter position in June 2005, has served about 20 years as a town manager, which included stints in Corinna and Monson.

“‘It’s just a great opportunity for me to be able to go to work for Maine Municipal and still stay in touch with my municipal colleagues, to work with them and yet, in a slightly different capacity,” she said Friday. Doore will serve as a marketing account representative and will assist Maine communities with their risk management needs. “It’s very exciting for me,” she said.

The council voted 5-1 to accept her resignation, with Juanita Taylor voting in opposition.

David Pearson, assistant town manager, is expected to serve as interim town manager when Doore leaves the position on Sept. 5.

“It was a great three-plus years,” Doore said of her time as Dexter’s town manager. “I’m very proud of the town hall, bringing it back as a functional community center.” She said she also was proud of having a role in the dam replacement project.

Doore described the town’s airport and golf course as “two diamonds” as far as economic growth is concerned for Dexter.

She said future efforts by town officials should concern economic development for business retention. “To me, in my opinion, the golf course and the airport are very, very vital in that economic picture,” she said. “They will, with good upkeep, attract the economic development we are looking for. I feel very confident in that.”

On Thursday the council initially voted down a matching $4,800 grant from the Maine Land and Conservation Fund for hole realignment at the municipal golf course. Doore and James Costedio, the golf course contractor, submitted the grant that was approved for funding. Because the lowest bid submitted for the realignment project exceeded the $9,600 project by $100, the bid was rejected.

Surprised by the vote, Doore said she advised the council during the meeting that the town would lose the grant with its action. That prompted Councilor Fred Sherburne, who initially had voted in opposition because of past experience with the contractor who submitted the lowest bid, to ask for a re-vote on the matter, Doore said. That request was approved by Chairman Roger Brawn and the council voted 4-2, which saved the project, she said. The project is expected to begin after Aug. 15.

“I hope the voters, when they go to the polls in November, will elect a cohesive council that will have members who are committed to economic development,” Doore said.

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