Commissioners officially named Ryan D. Pelletier as the new county administrator during the Aroostook County Commissioner’s meeting, Wednesday, May 17, in Fort Kent. (Don Eno)
MADAWASKA, Maine — Town Manager Ryan D. Pelletier, who announced his resignation last week, is leaving to become the new Aroostook County administrator.
Pelletier will be taking over for current administrator Doug Beaulieu who is retiring June 30, it was announced during the county commissioners regular meeting in Fort Kent Wednesday afternoon.
“I know I have big shoes to fill,” Pelletier told commissioners following their formally approving his hiring. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
Pelletier announced last Friday that he was leaving Madawaska because of a “professional opportunity” but added that he had agreed to keep private information about his new job until the “entity” hiring him could announce it publicly.
Before taking the post in Madawaska in 2015, Pelletier worked for the Northern Maine Development Commission for five years as their director of economic and workforce development. Before that he was the town manager for 11 years of St. Agatha, where he still lives.
Pelletier, 40, said following Wednesday’s announcement that he plans to continue living in the St. John Valley, even though the main county office is located in Caribou. He said he intends to be on the road a lot, especially the first several months, getting to meet the 90 full-time county employees.
“I want to establish good working relationships with all of them,” he added.
“He has been a friend and colleague for 15 years,” Beaulieu said of Pelletier following the meeting. “I think he is exceptionally well qualified, versed and prepared for the job.”
At the start of the meeting Beaulieu thanked the commissioners for “all the good years.” Beaulieu served as administrator for 16 years. Prior to that, another St. John Valley native, Roland “Danny” Martin served many years as administrator for the county.
Pelletier confirmed he has accepted a three-year contract with the county, which includes an annual salary of $88,000 and various benefits. He will start on June 19.
The soon to be former town manager commented that, at his age, turning down the opportunity with Aroostook County would have been a difficult decision. “If I passed it up now, who knows when it would have come up again.”
As the new county administrator, Pelletier said he is looking to “redefine the role of county government a little bit,” by bringing a more collaborative approach and focus to both economic development and social services.
Looking ahead to his departure from his post in Madawaska, Pelletier said he has presented the board of selectmen with a transition plan. He said it was his understanding that selectmen want to quickly review and interview applicants for his soon to be vacant position with the town.
Pelletier, a native of St. Francis, started his career in 1998 serving one year as the town manager of Wallagrass. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and undergraduate degrees in political science and business management.
In 2006, Pelletier was elected president of the Maine Municipal Association, the statewide organization representing Maine’s towns and cities.
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- Aroostook County Commissioners (from left) Paul Underwood and Norm Fournier stand with newly hired County Administrator Ryan D. Pelletier and fellow commissioner Paul Adams Wednesday, May 17, in Fort Kent. (Don Eno)
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- Commissioners officially named Ryan D. Pelletier as the new county administrator during the Aroostook County Commissioner’s meeting, Wednesday, May 17, in Fort Kent. (Don Eno)
