PATTEN, Maine — Town manager Raymond Foss resigned during Wednesday’s Select Board meeting.
“I have appreciated deeply the opportunity to serve the town of Patten since my first day,” Foss said in the letter he presented to selectmen during the meeting. “I feel we have accomplished much to move the town forward in a more purposeful way, particularly with the development and completion of a comprehensive plan, with the development and implementation of the capital improvement plan, the updating of ordinances and in the financial position of the town.”
His final day with the town will be Friday, April 5.
Select Board Chairman Lora Ryan said Thursday that the members “will be actively seeking an interim town manager to allow time to advertise, interview and hire a new town manager.”
Foss’ resignation comes after his contract was the subject of much discussion during the annual town meeting on March 19 and at a special board of selectmen’s meeting immediately after the town meeting, when a vote by selectmen to not renew his contract failed. The contract again was discussed at the regular selectmen’s meeting on March 20.
The minutes of the March 19 special meeting state that Foss was seeking a family insurance plan from the town.
Foss has served as Patten’s municipal leader since Feb. 19, 2016. He stated on March 28 that he was working on an interim deal once his regular contract expired on March 19 without a renewal.
In his resignation letter, Foss added that the town had successfully empowered the budget committee and planning board, and now has a “resurgent” parks and recreation advisory board.
The town was able to put money into infrastructure, including $250,000 in blacktop asphalt last year; created a town website and a business directory; and became more involved in regional planning efforts.
“There is more to be done, especially in the area of external grant funding for infrastructure projects for the water and sewer systems, and at the Rec Building and Library,” Foss wrote, “but I feel that would be better done with new leadership at this time.”
