Brenenstuhl appointed Dover-Foxcroft interim town manager

DOVER-FOXCROFT —  Dover-Foxcroft Communications Director/Project Manager Alsina Brenenstuhl will serve as the town’s interim town manager with Town Manager Jack Clukey departing at the end of the week. The appointment was approved by the select board during a meeting on Monday, Jan. 27.

Following two decades in the position, Clukey announced last fall that he would be stepping down in January as the select board accepted his resignation on Oct. 15. Clukey said then he had other career goals and challenges he wanted to pursue.

“He has not yet announced where he is going next but that should be shared by Jack at the appropriate time,” Select Chair Tom Lizotte said.

In the summer Brenenstuhl was hired to fill the then newly-created communications director/project manager position. 

“Alsina is a natural and obvious choice, she has been with us for six months now as communications director/project manager,” Lizotte said. “Jack has been sharing, off loading, and downloading his brain with her, telling her about all her projects. I have enjoyed working with her very much and I am sure she has every capability to get us through this period.”

He said the board was unsure how long Brenenstuhl will serve as interim town manager. “

“I would suggest it’s going to be at least four weeks, maybe a little longer but we are in the interview stage with candidates,” Lizotte said. “I think we are coming toward the finish line, I can see an ending in sight. We have interviewed a number of people, we have received over 40 resumes now.”

“I have appreciated my opportunity to serve Dover-Foxcroft over the last 21 years and I have appreciated the support of the board and past boards,” Clukey said. He said there are lots of opportunities for the next town manager and Clukey will continue to reside in the community.

In other business, board member Steve Grammont said the Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee is readying for a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Central Hall Commons to discuss the work done to date and update the public on its review of the redevelopment of the dam and hydrofacility.

“We are collating all of our stuff, we went through a dry run of our presentation,” Grammont said, saying the committee hopes as many people as possible attend.

Grammont previously said committee members unanimously voted not to pursue rehabilitation and restarting the mill hydro facility, based on the findings from an engineering study conducted by Kleinschmidt Associates of Pittsfield to examine the feasibility of this. The committee will later make its official recommendation to the select board.

During public comment Manda Stewart, executive director of the Piscataquis Area Community Center, gave an update on the organization that is working to fill the void left by the recent closure of the Piscataquis Regional YMCA.

Stewart said the PACC would be closing on the Park Street facility that Friday and the organization is still working on attaining 501(c)3 status to be able to fully acquire the building from the Old Town Orono YMCA.

A soft opening is planned for next week with some classes starting and the gym being open. A full opening could take place the week after.

Stewart said the Dover & Foxcroft Water District called to say there was about 265,000 gallons of missing water. Upon coming into the building, a broken hot water pipe was discovered in the hallway near the climbing wall.

“Lucily the water district called me or I wouldn’t have known,” Stewart said. The pipe was fixed and water cleaned up

She said the inaugural Waves of Giving event is planned for the evening of Friday, March 28 at the Central Hall Commons with a dinner, auctions, and entertainment. 

In his report Clukey said a pre-bid meeting was held for the rehabilitation of the Autumn Avenue bridge. Bids are due Jan. 30 and a recommendation for the award is scheduled to be on the Feb. 10 select meeting agenda.

He said construction would be covered with funds from a bridge reserve account, as no grants were found for the project.

“We got some good news from the water district last week,” Clukey said.

The water district received $1 million from the Northern Border Regional Commission to be used for a West Main Street water main upgrade.

Clukey also said a gravel roads and bridges/culvert study is nearing completion with the documents likely to be delivered next month.