Rangeley manager proposes new Public Services Director; selectmen question scope and cost

During the line‑by‑line budget review, the town manager presented a proposal to reintroduce a Public Services Director position to provide day‑to‑day oversight of Public Works and manage an expanding portfolio of infrastructure projects.

The presenter said Public Works is the town’s largest department with roughly half the town’s employees and a budget near $2.3 million, and argued the department needs a dedicated director to manage capital projects, supervise supervisors and provide continuity as senior staff retire. "Public Works is the largest department in the town... Somebody's gonna need a spearhead," the presenter said.

Several selectmen pushed back on scope and cost. They questioned whether the new director would absorb existing duties (airport manager and parks oversight), how the role would differ from past structures, and whether the salary level was justified compared with other town staff. One selectman remarked he struggled to see how the current building could accommodate additional staff and expressed concerns about office safety and amenities for relocated employees.

The presenter said the stipend associated with airport duties could be reallocated to the new position and acknowledged the town manager’s current workload was unsustainable: "I cannot sustain all of that," he said, arguing that reassigning responsibilities would better align tasks with expertise. Committee members asked for additional detail on job description, compensation comparisons and implementation timing before making a decision.

No formal motion to create the position was made at the meeting; the discussion will continue as part of the budget process.