Island Falls hires new town manager

Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
ON THE JOB — Dave Dionne of Presque Isle has been named the new town manager for Island Falls. He began his official duties on Dec. 30.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    ISLAND FALLS — Island Falls has a new town manager to guide the municipality following the hiring of Dave Dionne of Presque Isle.
    Dionne replaces Joseph Clark, who served as town manager for about a year before resigning at the end of December to return to his hometown of Millinocket. Dionne’s first day on the job was Dec. 30. Prior to coming to Island Falls, Dionne worked for the Housing Authority in Fort Fairfield, managing public housing and Section 8 units.
    “This position was a new career move for me,” Dionne said. “It was a way for me to feel like I belong to something bigger. I wanted to feel more involved in a community and this is one way to do that.”
    While he had no prior municipal government experience, Dionne has worked for the federal government in a management position with law enforcement. He grew up in Madawaska, graduating in 1995. Upon graduation, he joined the Marine Corps.
    Dionne served his four years and then joined the Department of Defense as a police officer.  He made the rank of supervisor and was one of the youngest sergeants in the group, serving in Waikiki, Hawaii from 1999-2006.
    He then moved to Reno, Nev., where he joined the U.S. Army and served a year and a half in Iraq before returning to his hometown. Back in Madawaska, he worked in the lumber mill for a year-and-a-half. When that plant closed, he took the position in Fort Fairfield with the Housing Authority.
    His biggest challenge thus far has been getting to know the ins and outs of his job, as well the members on the board of selectmen and office staff.
    “I knew I wanted to do something bigger than what I was doing,” Dionne said.
    Dionne had never really visited Island Falls prior to taking the job, but he said the beauty of the town struck him once he started looking around.
    “This is really a great community,” he said. “They really have a stake in what they are doing. The townspeople are really involved in what goes on. And the two lakes they have here are just awesome.”
    Dionne said his biggest challenge in his new role would be economic development.
    “The board of selectmen are really forward-thinking and really interested in moving the town ahead,” he said.
    The town office features two other employees, as well as a water department superintendent, the volunteer fire department and ambulance service. There are five members on the town’s board of selectmen. They are Paige Coville (chairman), Darrell Hartin, Jeff Brooks, Terry Dwyer and Alan Schenk.
    Dionne commutes to Island Falls from Presque Isle, where he lives with his wife Judy and five children, Ellie, Sean, Brandon, Jacob and Christian. His wife serves as the administrative assistant to the Presque Isle city manager.