LIMESTONE, Maine — After roughly a half hour in executive session, Limestone Police Chief and Interim Town Manager Stacey Mahan announced on Feb. 22 that the town “will be making an offer of employment for a public works position, hopefully by [Feb. 23].”
Mahan said the town could not name the individual selected until that person had accepted the position.
The town has been without a highway foreman for over a month, with former Public Works Director William Thibodeau officially resigning on Jan. 7. For the last month or so, Limestone Water and Sewer District Superintendent Jim Leighton has stepped in to assist Mahan in the day to day operations of the department.
Mahan said on Monday, Feb. 26, that he is still not able to name the Select Board’s pick for the position as the individual has not yet accepted the terms of employment.
“An offer has been made,” he said. “I would think, depending on if the offer has been accepted, the board will make a confirmation during their next meeting,” which is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. on March 7 in the Limestone Town Office.
Mahan said he “wouldn’t feel good to name [the person] and have them not take” the job.
“The offer was made on Friday,” Mahan said. “We’re just waiting to find out if they’re good with the money, terms, and benefits,” and that it “seems promising” that the new director will accept these terms.
Mahan said Leighton, and crews from other surrounding communities, have been a big help in dealing with recent storms, but that with one of the town’s two plows taken out of commission by an engine fire,, and the spare vehicle malfunctioning, Limestone is down to one plow.
The town received roughly $28,000 for the burned vehicle via their insurance company, and Mahan said “it would be good to get the ball rolling” in terms of buying a new, or newer, vehicle.
“I’ve looked at different trucks and prices,” he said. “The $28,000 we got from the insurance company is certainly not enough to buy a truck, and we also need to see where the town wants that money to go. It certainly goes toward something, though, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
