Filling city post could take time

South Portland City Manager Jim Gailey says it could be several months before he hires a replacement for Erik Carson, the director of economic and community development who resigned Aug. 29 after being placed on administrative leave Aug. 15.

Gailey said last week he plans to review the job description, which included service as assistant city manager until last October, when those duties were stripped from Carson and assigned to Finance Director Greg L’Heureux. “I’d like to have the job filled tomorrow, because I’m doing all the work,” said Gailey, “but I want to do the review right, and that means clearing my plate of a few things first.”

Gailey was South Portland’s first full-time economic development director in 2003, retaining those duties in 2006 when he was elevated to assistant city manager. He will take on his old duties, working in conjunction with L’Heureux and Planning Director Tex Haeuser, until a decision is made on the scope of work for any new hire. Gailey declined to say why Carson was placed on leave, calling the decision, “a personnel thing.”