ROCKLAND, Maine — Ten months after the last manager resigned, the job of Rockland city manager is being advertised.
And the man who has served as interim manager since James Smith resigned in December, said he is considering applying for the post on a more long-term basis.
Interim City Manager Tom Luttrell said he is weighing heavily the possibility of submitting an application for the manager’s job. The deadline for applications to be filed is Nov. 7.
Luttrell has twice served as interim city manager for extended periods. He also served as interim manager from September 2011, when Rosemary Kulow resigned, until the start of April 2012, when Smith was hired. Smith stayed on in the post for 20 months.
Luttrell also is the city’s finance director, a position he has held since January 2007. Before that, he served as the business manager for School Administrative District 5 in Rockland from 2001 until being hired by the city.
The advertisement states that the ideal candidate should have strong skills in finance, operations, labor and management. The candidate also should have experience as a municipal manager, the ability to work effectively and with transparency with elected officials, citizen groups, employees and the Legislature, according to the advertisement.
“Rockland is facing some unique challenges over the next five years: a need for increased economic development, an aging infrastructure that needs addressing, aging housing, and a municipal government that needs refocusing and re-energizing. Rockland needs a city manager who can hit the ground running, lead a vibrant team of municipal employees, in concert with the council, to provide leadership to the city for the future,” according to the advertisement.
The City Council contracted with Dacri & Associates of Kennebunkport to help with the search at a cost of $17,000.