CAMDEN — Camden Town Manager Patricia Finnigan resigned Wednesday evening, Jan. 18, following a brief closed door meeting with the Camden Select Board. Her last day will be Friday, Jan. 20, until close of the business day.

Former Town Manager Roberta Smith will step in temporarily to help run the town as it begins the search for a new manager, effective Monday. Jan. 23.

In her resignation letter, Finnigan said: “During my past five years as Camden’s Town Manager, I have appreciated working with you all to accomplish good things on behalf of the citizens of Camden. We have been unified in a common goal to retain what makes Camden the special community that it is, while continuing to position Camden to thrive for the long term.”

She continued: “I wish you well as you continue your important work, but I find it necessary to resign as Town Manager.”

She thanked the town for “the opportunity to work with you and to serve this extraordinary community.”

The Select Board accepted her resignation at their Jan. 18 meeting. They exited executive session following 20 minutes, a meeting that included Chairman John French, members Don White, Leonard Lookner, Marc Ratner and Jim Heard, along with Finnigan and Town Attorney Bill Kelly.

Each of the board members expressed regret at her departure.

“It is a sad day for all of us,” said White.

Lookner said he enjoyed the five years of working with Finnigan, as did French, Heard and Ratner, and they all wished her well in the future.

The board and Finnigan declined to comment further on circumstances leading up to her resignation, but Finnigan said when elected officials and a municipal manager differed in their thinking then it was up to “the manager to sever ties.”

The board also voted Jan. 18 to retain Smith, who is a Rockport resident, for compensation commensurate with her previous employment by the town. Smith had been town manager in Camden until her retirement in 2011.

Finnigan had been hired in early autumn, 2011, after she moved to Camden from the city of Portland, where she had been assistant city manager.

After graduating from the University of Maine in 1975, she immediately began to serve on the Bangor City Council, making her the youngest elected councilor. She was Auburn's city manager for 12 years, after serving for four years as that city's assistant city manager. 

Reach Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657