MACHIAS, Maine — A former town manager is returning to the position on Oct. 1.
The local selectmen hired Christina Therrien at their Aug. 27 meeting and signed her employment contract at their meeting Sept. 9. Her annual salary will be $60,000.
Therrien, who served as Machias town manager for four and a half years from 2001 to 2006, replaces Christopher Loughlin, who resigned June 5.
“I’m excited about coming back to Machias,” Therrien said during a phone interview Thursday. “The area’s absolutely beautiful.”
She served as town manager in Madawaska for nine years until she resigned in June, she said.
“The timing was right that [the] Machias [position] opened up,” said Therrien, who is originally from Oakland.
She said the Machias board wants to focus on improving recreational facilities for youths. She also will work on projects such as improving the Machias Valley Airport, establishing a town website and, of course, economic development.
“It’s the goal of every town to grow and flourish,” she said.
Therrien said she doesn’t start her position full time until Oct. 1 because she needs time to move from Aroostook County. In the meantime, she is serving as interim manager, which means she is on call.
“Some things in town government only a town manager can handle,” said Aubrey “Skip” Carter, chairman of the select board. Such things include personnel issues.
For example, Therrien said, one of the Machias police, fire and ambulance dispatchers resigned about two weeks ago. The manager must recommend a replacement to the selectmen.
Therrien will attend interviews to be set up by the selectmen and fire chief, she said.
“You don’t want to leave [the position] open for too long because other dispatchers will get burned out,” she said.
The selectmen voted unanimously to pay Therrien $150 a day plus mileage for her duties as interim manager.
“Even though she’s the interim manager, she must be compensated,” Carter said.
“I’m anxious to get there full time,” Therrien said. “It’s difficult to be this far away.”
Therrien, who described herself as a “hands-on manager,” has been a town manager for 17 years and done municipal work for 23 years.
Vice Chairman Warren Gay said he looks forward to having Therrien on board.
“The people I’ve talked to have been very, very pleased to have her,” he said.