HAMPDEN, Maine — Hampden’s town manager for the past 14 years announced Monday night that she will not renew her contract when it expires at the end of June.
“The town of Hampden is an amazing community and I have been honored to be its manager for the past fourteen and a half years,” Susan Lessard wrote in a letter to Mayor David Ryder that she read into the record during a Town Council meeting.
“Family health issues that have recently come to light have caused a change of plans, and Dan [her fiance] and I will be working to simplify our lives,” she said.
Lessard said she plans to work through the end of her contract and will assist with the upcoming budget, the selection of a new public works director, and contract negotiations with the town’s police and fire unions.
The announcement was not news to town councilors, who were told informally at a recent committee meeting.
During their meeting Monday night, councilors scheduled a workshop for April 7 during which they will discuss the search for Lessard’s successor with a representative of Eaton Peabody Consulting Group.
Before coming to Hampden in late 2000, Lessard was Vinalhaven’s town manager from 1993 to 2000.
She began her public service career in 1982 as Searsport’s town clerk. In 1986, she became Livermore Falls’ town manager, and worked for the Maine Tomorrow consulting firm from 1988 to 1991. She returned to the public sector in 1991 as town manager of Fayette.
In August 2011, Lessard submitted her resignation, saying that she wanted to make some life changes.
In January 2012, Lessard was tapped to become Southwest Harbor’s finance director but decided to return to her former job in Hampden in March of that year, after efforts to hire two finalists for her post fell through.
The council’s vote to reinstate Lessard ended a seven-month search for a replacement.
After Monday’s meeting, Lessard said she initially planned to stay on for a few more years but that recent events had accelerated her departure.
In other business, the council recognized Hampden public safety personnel and Al Nygren, a resident who works as an EMT for the city of Waterville, for their actions during the massive pileup on Interstate 95 on Feb. 25.
Nygren and Hampden police Sgt. Dan Stewart, Hampden fire Lt. Jason Lundstrom, firefighter-paramedics Matthew Thomas and Matthew Roope, firefighter Aaron Jellison and live-in student and call firefighter Chelsea Young each are receiving letters of commendation from the Town Council on behalf of the community.