Orono wants its next town manager to have an adaptable, collaborative and ethical leadership style, according to survey results from 303 residents, municipal staff and others.
The town released an anonymous, five-question survey in December to gather feedback from the public about what qualities it wants in a new town manager. The input will be used to create advertisements for the position and inform the search. A committee of residents, municipal staff and others, which is to be formed in February, will work with consultants to conduct the search.
The town hasn’t said when it expects to hire a new manager, but a consultant said a search typically takes from 10 to 12 weeks after a job is posted.
The position opened after former Town Manager Sophie Wilson’s departure, which the Orono Town Council approved in October 2023 and cost the town about $95,000. The council’s chairperson declined to say whether she resigned or was fired. Wilson was in the role for 12 years.
She left in early December. Cornell Knight, who led Bar Harbor twice, stepped in as the interim manager.
Orono has not led a search for a manager in more than a decade, but it hired Texas-based search firm Strategic Government Resources to find the best person for the job. Residents and former councilors have emphasized that this will be the most important decision elected officials make, and they hope the next manager will stick around for the long term.
Wilson’s exit followed a string of other departures in 2023. That included Orono’s assistant manager, town planner and longtime executive assistant, who retired.
“One thing that would be particularly beneficial is the ability to collaboratively work to solve the unique problems that arise between the town and university,” said Jamie Wren, who participated in a workshop about the search Tuesday night.
Wren said it would be helpful to have a manager familiar with managing large events, like Maine Day, a UMaine tradition when classes are canceled and events to spruce up campus and celebrate the end of the spring semester are held. He also noted that Orono is small and close-knit, so a person with a high degree of emotional intelligence would succeed in the position, he said.
Budget constraints, lack of affordable housing in town, unstable workforce downtown revitalization are among the challenges the new manager will face, community members said Tuesday.
That’s why a critical thinker, good listener and someone able to craft creative solutions is needed, they said. Compassion, a good business sense and transparency were other qualities they listed.
This week, Lissa Barker, senior vice president of executive recruitment at Strategic Government Resources, flew in to meet councilors, business leaders, residents and others.
Councilors agreed Monday that the new manager will be paid $120,000 to $150,000. During that meeting, they spoke with Barker about forming a search committee, being equitable to candidates during the search and how long a prospective candidate should have to find housing, among other topics.
Orono is paying the search firm nearly $30,000 to find its next manager, according to a Nov. 3 proposal. The council’s goal is to find the best candidate, whether they come from Maine or elsewhere in the country, chairperson Geoff Wingard said last month.
Those present for Tuesday’s workshop brainstormed in small groups about what the next manager will need to be successful, why a candidate would want the job in Orono and why they would not.
“The current council is open to sharing information with the public,” said one participant named Alan, who identified himself by his first name only. “I would hope the town manager they hire, who will likely outlast some of them, has the same attitude of openness.”
In the survey, 65 percent of responses indicated integrity was a top job competency. Other qualities included functional and operational expertise, 54 percent; empowering staff, 47 percent; taking initiative and risks, creativity and innovation, 47 percent; budgeting, 43 percent; and strategic planning, 42 percent.
Survey respondents identified infrastructure, community, housing affordability, taxes and climate change as priority areas for the town’s future.
Of the 303 people who took the survey, 90 percent were residents, 11 percent were Orono business owners and 9 percent were municipal staff. The rest wrote an “other” label to describe their town involvement.
Safety, walkability, access to nature, a strong K-12 school system and engaged residents were among the reasons that a candidate would want to move to Orono, those in attendance said. Reasons they might not take the position included Orono’s size, cold climate, distance from major cities and dissatisfaction from residents about how the town is being run.
Balancing relations with the university, Penobscot Nation and other partners could be attractive or intimidating, they said.
Councilor Sonja Birthisel, who led the event Tuesday, is optimistic about finding a great person to become Orono’s next manager, she said.
“It’s been a positive and exciting week getting our search really launched,” she said. “I have enjoyed working with our search partner so far, and am deeply grateful for participation from town staff and members of the public who have stepped up to be actively engaged in the process.”
