Tue, 09/06/2022 - 6:00am

SUSAN JOHNS

File photo

Alna selectmen’s pick for town clerk, former Rockland city councilor Elizabeth Dickerson of Union, is not taking the job. First Selectman Ed Pentaleri confirmed the news Friday in an email response to questions, after the town office had been closed the week of Aug. 29. A town email said the closure was “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

“Unfortunately, (Dickerson) informed us shortly after (the Aug. 22 board) meeting that – for personal reasons, and with great regret – she would be unable to join us after all. I have great respect for Lizzie, and continue to believe that she would have been a tremendous addition to our team,” Pentaleri told Wiscasset Newspaper.

He said the board next learned that outgoing clerk Lisa Arsenault would not be staying on through Aug. 31 after all. “We are grateful to Lisa for her service to the town, and wish her the best.”

And Pentaleri said because Deputy Town Clerk Lynette Eastman was on vacation, “we have been forced to close the office this week (of Aug. 29).” He expected the office to reopen Tuesday, Sept. 6 and likely stay on a modified schedule until the clerk job is filled.

He noted Alna is not alone in staffing challenges. He looked into possibly having a nearby town temporarily help get vehicles registered. “I found (this) would likely have created a prohibitively time-consuming process for the other town and for Alna.

“Because that would only have compounded our staffing challenge, and because we hope to be open again (Sept. 6), we didn’t pursue that any further,” Pentaleri said.