LIMESTONE, Maine — After three months of searching, Limestone’s Selectboard has hired Matthew Pineo to serve as town manager.
Pineo, whose first day on the job was Oct. 2, is bringing years of experience to the town of Limestone, with a resume that includes working as town manager in Bradford, Brownville, Jackman and Sangerville. He also served as president of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, CEO of Penquis Solid Waste Coordination, the Eastern Maine Development Corporation Board of Directors, and was a member of the Maine Town and City Manager’s Association.
According to a press release issued by the town on Monday, Limestone Select Board Chair Stephen Beaulieu said Limestone was “fortunate” to have Pineo on board, adding that his “business and municipal experience speaks volumes as to the benefits” he brings to both Limestone and Aroostook County.
Born in Machias, Pineo moved to California in the 1980s to pursue work, and eventually found a job as a corporate administrator for Lowe’s. The position involved taking care of money, ensuring employee safety, human resources work, and generally wearing several hats, some of which are also worn by town managers, he said Monday.
Pineo said he moved back to Maine in 2008 “when the markets went bad,” read an advertisement for a town manager position, and applied.
“I read the qualifications and said, ‘Hey, I could do this,’” Pineo recalled. “It sounds easier in the ad than it actually is. There are a lot of politics involved with being a town manager and other items are mixed in constantly. You have to juggle several hats.”
While Pineo has managed several towns in the past, his affinity for managing and helping small towns drew him to the Limestone position.
“I applied to several jobs and selected towns throughout the state,” Pineo said. “Limestone called me back, and I was offered the position just six days after the interview. It was rather quick; I was interviewed in the middle of September and here I am nine days after being offered the position.”
While Pineo officially began on Oct. 1, his first full day was Monday, Oct. 2.
“The [first day] is good so far,” Pineo said on Monday afternoon, “I’m just getting my feet wet right now. It will take about a month to fully catch up with everything in the office right now.”
Pineo added that there aren’t many differences between managing a town in Aroostook County compared to those he managed in the past.
“The same challenges exist in Piscataquis, Somerset, and northern Penobscot,” Pineo said. “When you’re in the Bangor area it’s not as bad, but when you get out into rural Maine, those are the communities that need help and guidance.”
Pineo’s plan for Limestone includes cleaning up “dangerous, derelict buildings” and addressing the “drug problem.”
“Drugs will be a big thing,” Pineo said. “I’ve spoken to the police chief and we’re going to be paying very close attention to that. This small community is just getting run down by drugs, and it’s so unfortunate. This town has the ability to look just like Mayberry [of the Andy Griffith Show].
Pineo said the people he has met so far are “all asking for the same thing: good roads, and to get the town cleaned up.” He plans on rebuilding the community and bringing people to a “place where they’re proud of their home and their community.” This includes downtown revitalization, adding some color to main street, and bringing businesses to the town.
“When you come into town, there aren’t a lot of things that draw your eye to make you want to stop,” Pineo said. “This town definitely needs some color to attract tourists and Canadians to stop if they’re driving through.”
As town manager, Pineo plans on running the town “just like any government entity.”
“There are no special favors,” Pineo said. “The board makes the decisions and my job is to carry out policy.”
Just halfway through his first day, Pineo said he had already applied for grants to assist in his goals of revitalizing the town.
“I have my work cut out for me,” Pineo said.
