Harpswell’s part-time town planner, Mark Eyerman, plans to retire this summer or fall, and the town intends to hire a full-time planner in his place.
Eyerman, a contractor, works about 20 hours per week for Harpswell. His contract expires June 30, although he said he is willing to extend it a few months to help with the transition.
“I told the Select Board that after the end of September, I’m not interested in doing regular planning stuff, like … Planning Board reviews and meetings, and staffing committee meetings,” Eyerman said, adding that he might be open to working on special projects.
“He does have just incredible institutional knowledge about our ordinances and the application of our ordinances,” Town Administrator Kristi Eiane said during a Select Board meeting on Jan. 18. “I don’t think we can let go completely yet, but at some point I imagine he’ll be looking for that.”
The town has had a contract with Eyerman since July 2016. It pays $60 per hour for his services. Before Eyerman, the town employed a series of full-time planners beginning in 2001.
Eiane, in an email, said a full-time planner would have more availability to meet with members of the public, Planning Board applicants, and town committees and staff.
“The Planner is viewed as a key position in municipal government that helps the Town prioritize and work on major goals, particularly with respect to land use policy,” Eiane said in an email. “As the community faces development pressures, this is a critical position that will keep the focus on being prepared for and managing growth.”
A full-time planner also would seek grants to fund town projects and work on important issues such as attainable housing, resiliency to climate change, and sustainability projects, Eiane said.
Eyerman’s retirement and the transition to a full-time town planner will result in higher costs. The draft 2024 budget for the planning office totals $112,100, an increase of $38,100 or 51.5% from 2023’s figures.
The budget includes $45,000 for a partial year of Eyerman’s services, plus $55,000 to fund a partial year’s salary for a full-time planner. Eiane expects a full year’s salary to range from $70,000 to $80,000. Benefits will add to the expense, but fall under a different budget.
Eyerman said that since he turned 77, “it’s not fun anymore” to stay up late for town meetings, then commute more than an hour at night. He and his wife, Carol, moved to Gorham three years ago to be closer to her mother.
“Seven years ago, I agreed to fill in … on a part-time basis, and seven years later I’m still filling in, and so it’s just — it’s time,” Eyerman said.
Eyerman said he doesn’t have any specific plans for retirement. His wife still works full time, and he has already been approached by officials in Gorham to help with that community’s planning activities.
“I’m on a committee for the town of Gorham, the planning department is after me to be the chair of another committee, and so, who knows?” he said.
