MAPLETON, Maine — The communities of Castle Hill, Chapman and Mapleton have found a new town manager, Dave Dionne, the current town manager of Island Falls.
Dionne will have a significantly shorter commute from Presque Isle when he starts May 8 as town manager for Castle Hill, Chapman and Mapleton.
“It’s bittersweet leaving Island Falls. They’ve got a lot going for them,” Dionne said.
At the same time, he added that he’s looking forward to working in one of the most unique municipal governments in the state.
“They should be a model for the rest of the communities in the area looking to consolidate services,” Dionne said. “And I’ve always heard good things about Mapleton. They’re family-oriented.”
A Madawaska native who previously served in the Marines and the Nevada Army National Guard, Dionne was one of 20 people who applied for the job, said Patricia Sutherland, chair of the Chapman select board.
“It was a good selection and most of them had real strengths. We felt good that we had choices,” Sutherland said.
“Dave seemed to have the background and seemed to fit with our communities. We’re looking forward to having him come.”
Dionne’s position comes with a salary of $62,500, in the range of the previous manager Jon Frederick, who left earlier this year for a municipal management job in his native New Hampshire.
