Eastport city manager tenders resignation

Eight months into the job, Eastport City Manager Ross Argir has decided to return to his previous work as an attorney. He tendered his resignation notice at the special Eastport City Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 4, with his last day to be November 3. While the council took no action after the executive session dedicated to personnel matters, Argir notes that the resignation is in accordance with his contract.
At its September 11 meeting, the council voted to accept Argir's resignation and advertise the position. Councillor Jeanne Peacock accepted the resignation with regret.
Argir and his wife Brandy plan to remain in Eastport and will continue to be involved in the city "we are proud to call home," he states. Of his decision to resign as city manager, Argir stresses, "It boils down to that I came to the conclusion that I can better serve the community as a Pine Tree Legal attorney rather than in this role." Argir had worked for the nonprofit before taking on the city manager position, and in November he will take up where he left off.
Argir says, "I think my relationship with the community has been very good, and I plan on continuing that relationship by being involved with the community." He says he hopes to help bring to fruition projects that began while he has been city manager, including the High Street sidewalk project, the Quoddy Village park and the restoration of the dog park on Drummond Road.
During his tenure as city manager, he put in place a number of policy changes, including ones concerning the sale of city property and the process followed on tax‑foreclosed properties. He is glad to see the Eastport Development and Growth Effort group and the parks and recreation committee "really pushing things forward," and he believes that the pieces are coming together for "a higher and better use" of the former Guilford mill building, as terms are reached with the federal Economic Development Administration for Eastport to sell the building in a way that will not be financially prohibitive to the city.
As for his relationship with the city council, Argir states, "I've enjoyed working with the council and have been honored by the opportunity they gave me to serve my community."
Argir was hired by the council on December 31 with a start date of January 14, after Elaine Abbott had resigned as city manager. He overlapped for two months with Abbott in order to train with her. He had no prior municipal managerial experience. Abbott served as manager, starting on an interim basis, from November 2014 to March 2018. Argir was paid a salary of $52,000 for the one year, which was considered a probationary period.
Since 2010, Eastport has had four city managers.