Lincoln has fired its town manager after just two months on the job.
The Town Council, which unanimously approved his appointment in March, voted 4-3 during a special meeting Monday night to break its contract with Dennis Bullen.
Lincoln Town Councilor Sheldon Hannington brought forward the motion to fire Bullen, saying it was “nothing personal,” but was needed for Lincoln to grow.
“If we want to move this town forward, I think we need to separate and get someone who doesn’t have skin in the game whatsoever,” Hannington said at Monday’s meeting.
Lincoln is in the process of drafting next year’s budget and a long-term revitalization plan to bring in more residents and businesses to the former mill town. More than 10 years after the mill’s closure, the town holds contracts for businesses to open in its former mill site and has plans to build 50 to 120 housing units for the growing workforce.
Bullen had spent 10 years working for Lincoln, acting as director of both the public works department and the transfer station, as well as serving as a supervisor within the Cemetery, Parks, and Recreation Department.
Before coming to Lincoln, Bullen owned and operated a concrete, masonry and demolition company in Maryland.
Bullen told the Bangor Daily News after his appointment that his goal was to attract more people and businesses to the former mill town.
His contract was supposed to run for two years.
Bullen had served as interim town manager after the resignation of his predecessor, Richard Bronson. He was appointed to that post on a seemingly permanent basis after newly hired Andrew Frodahl backed out of the job just days before he was due to start.
In a social media post announcing Monday’s vote, the town thanked Bullen for his service to Lincoln.
No interim town manager has yet been appointed.
Hannington said he knew someone who applied for the job and is qualified for it who should be hired, but did not say who it is.
Correction: A previous version of this story inaccurately attributed quotes from Councilor Sheldon Hannington to a different member of the Lincoln Town Council.