The Newcastle Board of Selectmen is going to promote longtime Town Clerk Lynn Maloney to the position of town administrator.
Maloney has been Newcastle’s town clerk for 22 years, since April 1992. The selectmen appointed her interim town administrator May 31, 2013, after the abrupt resignation of David Bolling.
She will drop the interim label, as well as her town clerk duties, when the selectmen officially appoint her town administrator in the coming weeks. The board announced the decision April 14.
Maloney is a native of Newcastle and a second-generation Newcastle town clerk. Her mother, Carol Pottle, was a town clerk and a selectman in Newcastle.
Maloney is a graduate of Lincoln Academy and the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham. She lives in Newcastle.
Maloney will become the fourth town administrator in the history of Newcastle. She will also continue in the role of treasurer.
Maloney’s deep roots in the town contribute to her effectiveness as a town employee, Newcastle Board of Selectmen Chairman Brian Foote said.
“She was born and raised here,” Foote said. “She loves this town and she knows the majority of the residents.”
“Her passion and compassion is really there for the town and its residents,” Foote said. “I think that makes a big difference, versus someone from away who’s just moving into town or not even living in town.”
“I think it’s a positive move for the town,” Foote said. “Lynn will be great in this position.”
Foote said Maloney “has come a long way” in the interim position, especially in the last six months, since she was able to transfer some clerical duties to other town employees and focus on the administrator job.
Maloney has impressed Foote with her leadership abilities and willingness to tackle important projects for the town, such as “leading the charge” to facilitate the return of passenger train service to Newcastle.
“I’ve been in a couple meetings with her when she’s stepped up and taken command,” Foote said.
Newcastle Deputy Town Clerk Dawn Burns will replace Maloney as town clerk and registrar of voters.
Burns, of Waldoboro, has been a deputy town clerk in Newcastle since Aug. 26, 2013. She was a deputy town clerk in Warren before taking the job in Newcastle.
Burns “is doing great in her new position,” Foote said. “She’s come a long way. She’s stepped up and taken over a lot of duties.”
“I think our office is in great shape,” Foote said. “I think our town is in good shape.”
Maloney is pleased with the promotion and ready to delve more deeply into her new responsibilities.
“It makes me feel like I can move on now and get into the job a little bit more,” she said. “Dawn is going to do a good job as town clerk, so I think together we will be a good team.”
She has enjoyed the work as interim town administrator. “I think it’s because I’ve done the same job for so long, that it’s nice just to get into a different side of it,” she said.
She appreciates the opportunity to work for her hometown. “I think all the administrators have always been invested in it, but I think it’s kind of special when it’s your own town,” she said.
Maloney thanked the selectmen, residents and her fellow town administrators for their support. “I have a great board to work with,” she said. “That makes a big difference right there.”
