FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — When current Fort Fairfield Town Manager Jim Risner and his wife came to Aroostook County in 2015, the couple had hoped to retire and settle into the quiet rural town.
Instead Risner became the town manager a mere three months later.
“The town manager had resigned not long after we came here and I thought that with my past experiences I could bring something good to the town,” Risner said recently, after announcing that he will officially resign from his position at the end of August.
Before coming to Fort Fairfield, Risner had spent more than 30 years working for the federal government and spent the last 28 with the Federal Civil Service. His prior position had been as a Pentagon liaison for the Program Executive Office Ammunition. He began his federal career as a Marine and obtained the rank of sergeant.
He also had served two terms as a town councilor in Culpeper, Virginia, was the chairman of the town planning commission, member of the town and county board of zoning appeals, and chairman of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission, all positions he believes helped him operate Fort Fairfield’s municipal government efficiently.
“I think those experiences gave me an understanding of how municipal governments work and what the various roles of different committees are,” Risner said. “I’ve always thought of the town government’s role as making staff aware of their function in the community and how they can be good stewards of taxpayer money.”
Throughout his tenure in Fort Fairfield, Risner has played a role in some major projects and decisions that have affected town residents, including the merger of the Presque Isle and Tri-Community landfills, raising more funds for the town’s capital reserve fund and efforts to reduce the yearly mill rate.
“I’ve most enjoyed seeing different department heads across the municipalities work together to share ideas and think of better ways that we can serve the communities,” Risner said.
Although the decision to resign as town manager was a difficult one, Risner looks forward to retiring once again and taking advantage of the time to explore the New Brunswick region in Canada and go snowshoeing and hiking during the winter and summer months.
Risner said that even though he announced his official last day will be Aug. 31, he will stay with the municipality into early fall if more time is needed in the search for a new town manager. He is not against becoming part of other community organizations and projects when the opportunities arise, but for now wants to embrace his “second retirement.”
“Being a town manager is not a 40-hour a week job. It’s a role that I’ve enjoyed, but my wife and I haven’t done many of the things we’ve wanted to since we came here,” Risner said. “I’m anxious to try out this retirement thing.”
