March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Manager in Veazie is named

VEAZIE — Exeter Town Manager William B. Reed has been named to replace Gerald S. Kempen here.

“We are looking forward to having Bill Reed as our new town manager,” council Chairman Rod Hathaway stated in a press release issued Thursday morning. “The town of Veazie faces many challenges in our future, however with the dedication of our staff and the addition of our new manager we will focus our resources to meet the needs of our citizens.”

Reed is expected to begin his new job April 12, Hathaway said.

The announcement came just weeks after the town began a statewide search to replace Kempen, who earlier this week assumed his new duties as town manager of Orono. Kempen had served in Veazie for five years, the longest tenure among managers since the town abandoned the board of selectmen form of government.

The new manager will find his dance card full, namely with the proposed Basin Mills hydroelectric project, but Veazie, which has about 2,000 people, is a relatively quiet community with few problems.

Reed was served as town manager of Exeter since April 1990. During the three years there, Reed and the town’s officials were involved in start-up of a municipal water system for the town and and the closure of the town’s landfill. He is a director on the Mid-Maine Solid Waste Association board which oversees operation of a regional solid waste disposal facility. The most recent project in which Reed was involved was attracting a new Head Start program to Exeter for area preschool children.

Reed’s memberships include affiliation with the International City Managers Association; the Maine Town-City Management Association; the Maine Tax Collector and Treasurers Association; the Penobscot Valley Refuse Disposal District; and the Central Maine Management Association.

Reed was an intern assistant to the town manager and town planner in Freeport before coming to Exeter. He graduated from University of Maine with a degree in public management.

Reed said Thursday that he looked forward to getting settled in his new job and meeting and working with the residents of Veazie.


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