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Oct. 14, 2016
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Abbott resigns as Eastport city manager
by Edward French

 

     After nearly two years on the job, Eastport City Manager Elaine Abbott submitted her resignation on September 27, effective November 30, citing personal reasons.
     In her letter to the city council, she writes, "Although I have enjoyed working with all of you, personal reasons necessitate that I leave my position with the city. Despite having to leave my employment with the city, I sincerely appreciate the opportunity you have provided me to serve our community, and I am grateful for your assistance along the way."
     Council President Gilbert Murphy comments, "I'm really sorry to see her leave. She's really done a good job. But I understand her reasons for leaving." Murphy notes, "It's true in all small towns. People will not leave her alone. Her own time is not her own time." He says people would call her at 6:30 in the morning and 11 or 12 at night to complain about issues. "Her comment was there are no boundaries."
     He and other councillors have spoken with Abbott individually and asked her "if there's anything we could to," says Murphy. "She just wants to get done."
     Murphy adds, "She's been really good with economic development and a good grant-writer."
Abbott will continue until another manager is hired, according to Murphy, who says it may take eight weeks to find a new city manager.
     Abbott has served as city manager since Larry Post left the position in November 2014. She served as interim city manager until being appointed to the position in December 2014. Post had started work in Eastport in 2013, having replaced Jonathan Southern, who had been hired in 2010, replacing Bud Finch. The city now will have lost four city managers in seven years.
      Abbott says there was no pressure from others for her to resign and that she has not been hired anywhere else. "I'm not leaving for other employment." She also has no plans to move. "I like it here. I chose to live in Eastport. Eastport is a very special community on many levels."
     Abbott states, "The city has a fantastic city council, and the employees are second to none. We're very lucky to have the leadership and the employees we have here."
     "I'm excited about the broadband and telecommuter initiatives going on right now," she says. However, she adds, "We have an amazing amount of infrastructure work to get done," and she mentions the work needed to repair collapsing culverts, crumbling catch basins and sidewalks and roads. "These are all expensive undertakings that will take time," she says, noting that the city has to be mindful of the tax burden for residents. She adds, "I will be very excited to see the breakwater open again."
     Over the past two years Abbott has been receiving recognition for her work as city manager. In October Mainebiz magazine named her as one of the 10 people on its 2016 Next List as outstanding forward-thinking leaders in the state. And in August she received the Rising Star Award of the Maine Town, City and County Management Association, which recognizes a public administrator who has done an outstanding job in her community. Last year she was chosen to be among a group of 14 Maine residents representing the government, business and nonprofit sectors to take part in a six-day tour of Denmark to learn about energy sustainability and climate change adaptations.
     Abbott states, "It truly has been my pleasure to serve the people of Eastport. A lot of exciting projects and initiatives are under way. As a resident I hope to see those move forward."

 

 

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