Waldoboro Names New Town Manager
By Samuel J. Baldwin
Town officials announced on Aug. 19 that John Spear will be the new Waldoboro Town Manager.
Spear, of South Thomaston, comes to the town with a long background in local government. He served as Vinalhaven town manager for three years, followed by 15 years as business manager for MSAD 50/RSU 13. For the last 12 years, he has served on the South Thomaston Board of Selectmen.
Prior to working in Midcoast Maine, Spear held several public management positions in eastern Massachusetts.
Spear lives in South Thomaston with his wife, a fourth-grade teacher in Cushing. They have one adult son, also a teacher.
Spear is currently self-employed as a public management consultant for school districts, specializing in labor negotiations, budget development, insurance bidding and grant applications.
He also works part time for RSU 13, helping them manage a transition in teacher and support staff contracts. He will continue to work part time for the school district for the first a few more weeks, Spear said.
“I’m pleased,” Spear said. “I look forward to taking on the challenge … the same challenges that any municipal government is facing these days.”
Although his first day as Waldoboro town manager will be Aug. 23, he will not start fulltime until Sept. 12, Spear and town officials said.
Spear, who described himself as an “observant, proactive manager,” said his strengths are budgeting, multitasking, human relations management and “infrastructure and capital reinvestment.”
Spear his role as manager is to be “the implementer” of the residents’ and selectmen’s visions for Waldoboro.
“He seems down to earth, easily approachable, and easy to talk to,” Dondlinger said. “He’s ready to get out and meet people; he wants to get going.”
The Waldoboro Board of Selectmen are expected to officially appoint Spear at their Tues., Aug. 23 meeting, Chairman Clinton Collamore said.
“He’ll be taking on a lot,” Collamore said. Collamore is confident based on Spear’s background that he’s up to the challenge. “He’s everything that the board was looking for,” Collamore said.
Spear will operate under a contract – the first Waldoboro town manager to do so. The contract will last for 10 months, at which time Spear will undergo an evaluation and have an option to re-sign at his and selectmen’s discretion, Collamore said.
The Town Manager Search Committee – which comprised Dondlinger, Selectman Becky Maxwell, former Selectman Bob Butler, Ron Miller, Bob Pearson, George Seaver and Abden Simmons – looked at 33 applicants for the position, Collamore said.
Four were sent forward to the Board of Selectmen, who chose Spear. “I think we’re fortunate to find someone who can hit the ground running,” Collamore said. “He’s been through everything the board has asked for.”
Spear’s appointment marks the end of Dondlinger’s tenure as interim town manager. Many town employees and officials thanked Dondlinger for her service over the last seven-plus months.
“Eileen has done a great job,” Collamore said, “and I think she’s ready to get back to her own job.”
Since the former town manager resigned in January, Dondlinger has served as interim town manager – in addition to her position as finance director – at no additional pay. Dondlinger rejected offers of additional compensation from the Board of Selectmen.
“I’ve been here a long time,” Dondlinger said when she took the interim position. “To me, the ‘servant’ in ‘public servant’ means something.”
After Spear was named, Dondlinger expressed some degree of relief. “We did the best we could and tried to keep ourselves afloat,” she said. “I’m excited to get back to only doing one job. I think everyone is ready to have a fulltime person.”
