Hazlett steps down as Houlton town manager

HOULTON, Maine — The town must now search for a new leader following the resignation of Town Manager Doug Hazlett.
Houlton’s town manger for the past seven years, Hazlett announced his resignation to his staff Friday morning. He made the announcement official at Monday night’s council meeting, but the council has yet to accept his resignation.
    His final day with the town is March 23. A special meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, with councilors meeting in executive session to discuss the process of selecting a new town manager. The council is also expected to formally accept Hazlett’s resignation at that time, while also naming Assistant Town Manager Cathy O’Leary as the interim town manager effective March 23. O’Leary has served in this capacity before.
Hazlett was hired in 2005 to be Houlton’s town manager. Council chairman Paul Cleary stated Monday that he was one of the councilors who voted against hiring Hazlett back then, due to his lack of experience in municipal government.
“Seven years ago, your name was brought forward,” Cleary said. “I was one person that said ‘No, don’t do that. He has no experience. We need someone with experience. He’ll be eaten alive.’ I can admit I was wrong. I never saw this coming.”
During the public comments portion of Monday’s council meeting, Houlton resident Phil Bernaiche spoke of Hazlett’s resignation.
“I hear on the street that we are going to lose our town manager, probably the only one that has been successful,” Bernaiche said. “He has been liked by the people all these years. I can’t seem to get it through my mind that you people as councilors would allow it. He has been a good, good town manager.”
Bernaiche added he heard it was the council that was trying to “unload” the town manager.
Councilors and Hazlett denied that was the case.
“Nobody on this council has ever tried to unload you,” Cleary said.
“I want to be real clear that this was my decision and my decision alone,” Hazlett said. “There was no pressure from anyone on the town council to do this.”
Councilors wished Hazlett well in his new venture at MMG Insurance in Presque Isle. Hazlett’s former career was in the insurance field.
“I believe Doug has been an excellent town manager,” said Councilor Nancy Ketch. “If there was any way we could talk you out of this, we would. The town has moved forward under Doug’s leadership. It is up to us now to try and maintain that.”
“It is with a very heavy heart that bid farewell to you Doug,” Councilor Sue Tortello added. “You have served the town of Houlton well and you leave a legacy that you can truly be proud of. You have positioned us as a forward moving town that others in the state are really taking notice of.”
During his seven years as town manager, Hazlett said he has had a positive relationship with the council, working as a team.
“We have accomplished a lot,” he said. “We have invested in roads. We rebuilt 14 miles of sidewalks. We have done energy improvements to town buildings and new runways at the airport. Most importantly, we did all this without a huge increase to the mill rate. In fact, the mill rate is lower now than it was in 2005.”
Hazlett added the council has been forward thinking by consistently putting together conservative budgets. The town has also benefited from economic development.
“When I took this job I promised myself several things,” Hazlett said. “One was that I would always have an open door, that anybody that wanted to see me could. I believe I have met that commitment.”
He also wanted to “openly and honestly” communicate with the council and the public and that every decision he made had to be done in the context of what was right for the taxpayer.
“As I leave this job, I believe I have met those goals,” he said. “I can honestly say that I have enjoyed this job. I will greatly miss the fantastic people I work with every day. Houlton is very fortunate to have an exceptional work force.”