New town manager
‘excited about the possibilities’
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
KARIN PETRIN is Mars Hill’s new town manager. A 2012 graduate of the Maine New Leadership Institute, Petrin said her main goal is to help grow the community both in terms of population and economically. This is her first town manager position.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
MARS HILL — Karin Petrin’s primary goal as Mars Hill’s new town manager is to grow the community both in terms of population and economically.
“One of the aspirations of the town’s comprehensive plan, which is in the process of being updated, is to grow the population to 2,000 members by 2030,” she said. “Right now we’re a little less than 1,500, but I think that goal is attainable.
“We also want to bring businesses in and make Mars Hill a place to be. Mars Hill is a junction town; we have the benefit of being a place where two roads — Route 1 and Route 1A — come together which gives us a lot of opportunity,” said Petrin, 41. “My hope is to help the town attain those goals, which are my goals, as well. I see a lot of potential here. As I’m learning more, I’m seeing there are other avenues and things we can do that will help grow the town, which is what it’s all about.”
Recognizing that Mars Hill — as recently as the 1980s — was a bustling community, Petrin said she hopes to reverse the trend of outmigration and encourage entrepreneurs to set up shop.
“There’s a lot of opportunity here and I think people see that, but they don’t know how to get there,” she said. “I want to help people discover that opportunity.”
Petrin, who grew up in Manchester, N.H., said while she has no municipal government experience, she did attend a 2012 leadership program in Orono.
“Last summer I participated in — and graduated from — the Maine New Leadership Institute. It’s a weeklong, highly-intensive program designed to encourage and empower college women to get into leadership positions,” she said. “I came out of there with a whole new outlook on leadership positions, and politics in general.
“I used to think that politicians were born into these jobs or that you had to be somebody really special,” said Petrin, who earned a business administration degree from Northern Maine Community College in May. “However, this institute showed me that anybody can do it. As a woman, it was huge to think, ‘I can do this.’”
After seeing the town manager position advertised in The Star-Herald, Petrin thought she’d take a chance.
“I thought what the heck; why not. The worst that could happen is they’d say ‘No.’ The best thing is I’d get an interview,” she said. “I ended up getting an interview, a second interview and then I got hired. I’m still kind of like, ‘Pinch me.’ What really got me in this position is my business background and my community involvement.”
More recently, Petrin owned the web design company, The County Life. She has also worked at Door Services, Inc., Lowe’s and WEGP.
Petrin was hired May 16, her first day at the office was May 20, and she was officially appointed by the Town Council June 17. She replaces Dan McClung whose contract was not renewed.
“Because I have no municipal experience, there is a bit of a learning curve. I’ve been busy, but things have been going pretty well,” she said. “I love small communities; I like knowing my neighbor and I think this is going to be a great opportunity for me. I’m excited about the possibilities.”
Petrin has two grown children: Christopher, who lives in New Hampshire and Michael, who resides in southern Maine. She plans on moving to Mars Hill this month.
A few other personnel changes at the Mars Hill Town Office have occurred in the last few weeks. Jean White has retired after 30 years of service as the deputy clerk. Her last day was June 27. Jondalyn Brewer, who had been the assistant deputy clerk, has taken the deputy clerk position. Mars Hill resident Anne McQuade, who has more than 30 years’ experience in business, has been named the new assistant deputy clerk. Her first day was June 7.
