In its second emergency meeting in as many days, the Stockton Springs Select Board on Tuesday morning appointed another interim replacement for its recently fired town manager, after the town clerk declined to accept the interim role on Monday.
Loren Cole, who had previously served as the town manager on an interim basis, will hold the temporary role until a longer term interim manager is selected. The goal is for that person to hold the manager position until a permanent replacement can be found for Mac Smith, who was terminated from the town manager position on Dec. 30 after just over three years on the job.
Select Board members have declined to share their reasoning for terminating Smith, even though some residents have pressed for more information about the decision.
“I have to make sure the town can still function, can still pay its bills, can still receive money from taxes and license fees, that sort of thing,” Cole said on Tuesday morning. “Make sure the town can still function, make sure the town doesn’t have to shut down.”
Cole’s appointment came one day after town clerk Diane Reynolds was selected for the temporary position, but then opted out.
Cole now lives in Searsport, but still harbors “a great affinity for the town,” he said.
“He had done this before, so it was a no-brainer,” said Select Board member Elizabeth Lenharr.
While mostly retired, Cole is still active on the Stockton Springs ambulance service, where he serves as deputy director.
One resident who attended the meeting, Carol Fuller, expressed confidence in the choice.
“Having Loren, it will be good. People respect him, and they know him,” Fuller said.
