Georgiann Fleck is shown advising the Bridgton Planning Board during Tuesday’s meeting. She will begin her duties as Deputy Town Manager April 3.

By Gail Geraghty

Staff Writer

With a new title comes new authority, but those who know her know that Georgiann Fleck won’t let the title of Deputy Town Manager go to her head.

Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz made it official today, appointing Fleck to the position that was created recently by Bridgton Selectmen after Berkowitz announced his retirement effective this summer. Her selection resulted from an internal posting and interview process. Fleck had served under the title of Executive Assistant, and that position will be eliminated once her probationary period has passed.

A Search Committee has turned over to selectmen a list of six finalists from around 40 applications for Berkowitz’s replacement received from all over the northeastern U.S., with one candidate applying from New Mexico, according to Search Committee Chairman Mike Tarantino. A secondary list of four applicants has been set aside in case selectmen are unable to make a selection from the six finalists, he said. The board will be reviewing the list over the next month or so.

Fleck has served as interim town manager in the past during periods when the town was searching for a new town manager. But the new position, unlike the old, has been carefully defined, giving her supervisory authority over all town departments. She, in turn, is supervised by the town manager.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me as well as the town of Bridgton, and I am pleased to accept the position and the challenges it brings with it,” Fleck said in the announcement posted by Berkowitz. “I thank the Board of Selectmen for supporting this position, and I will continue to support the staff as well as represent the citizens to the best of my ability.”

Over the next few months, Fleck will take on added responsibilities and authority that come with the position. These include:

• Meeting with department heads to determine progress or problems

• Filling in for the town manager at selectmen’s meetings or other meetings as needed

• Processing permits, violation notices and correspondence

• Assisting with budget preparation and the town manager’s work plan

• Responsibility for the Annual Report

• Reviewing all bills to be approved for payment

• Preparing correspondence for the town manager, planning board, appeals board, fire department and public works department

• Sorting and filing all correspondence and organizing filing systems

• Preparing and distributing the agenda for the selectmen, planning board and appeals board

• Attending planning and appeals board meetings and recording the minutes

• Assisting the public when filing applications for the planning board and appeals board

• Preparing and submitting ads for public hearings, bid specifications and other public information

• Helping to maintain a database of building permits

• Answering calls and inquiries about department operations and referring such calls for action

Fleck said she feels fortunate to be able to “use my experience and knowledge during the transition of town managers.”

Berkowitz said of Fleck, “As deputy, she will have the ability to assure that decisions are made in a timely manner and that will contribute to the planned and orderly transition that our organization will face over the next six months as I prepare for my next great adventure.”