Reed Plantation begins search for new town manager

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    REED PLANTATION — The search for a new town manager has begun in Reed Plantation, but the current town manager isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
    Mitch Lansky has served as Reed Plantation’s town manager since 2006, but has decided the time has come for him to move on to other endeavors.
    “By next town meeting, I’ll have had this position for nearly seven years,” Lansky said. “I’d like to do other things. But I don’t want to leave the town in a bad position.”
    Lansky said he has given the town an open-ended notice, citing his willingness to remain in his current position until a suitable replacement is found and also stated a willingness to be consulted in the future.
    “I have offered to train the replacement, if necessary, to run the programs and understand the tasks that need to be done,” he said.
    Reed Plantation is located about 35 miles south of Houlton and has a population of 161 according to the most recent census figures. The annual budget is around $473,000 and the town is governed with an annual town meeting and monthly business handled by a three-member board of assessors. The three assessors are Ellen Mitchell, Ellen Hanington and Larry Cowan.
    Town manager duties include: managing contracts, budgeting, tax collecting, General Assistance administration, motor vehicle registrations and the duties of treasurer, which is currently an elected position.