ROCKLAND, Maine — Frank Isganitis will lead the city council for the next 12 months.
The council voted 3-2 Monday night to elect Isganitis as its mayor. He received the support of fellow Councilors William Clayton and Louise MacLellan-Ruf. Isganitis succeeds Larry Pritchett, who received the other two votes.
The mayor position in Rockland is largely ceremonial. He or she moderates council meetings, nominates members to municipal boards and oversees ceremonies.
Isganitis reminded residents that all councilors have their telephone numbers and email addresses listed on the city website.
The new mayor is co-owner and operator of the Limerock Inn in Rockland. He was elected to the council in November 2012.
Clayton and Valli Geiger were sworn in to office just before the mayor vote. Both were elected Nov. 4.
One of the first tasks for the new council will be hiring a city manager.
Clayton, who is chairman of the search committee, said more than 100 people expressed an interest in the job and 40 applied. The search committee — which consists of the council and former Councilor Eric Hebert — will interview six candidates starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at the Samoset Resort.
Finance Director Tom Luttrell has been serving as interim city manager since James Smith resigned in December 2013. Luttrell has declined to say whether he has applied for the manager job on a long-term basis.