The search is over: Heather Balser named Kennebunk's next town manager
KENNEBUNK, Maine — Kennebunk has a new town manager.
Heather Balser, formerly the city manager of Louisville, Colorado, will take the helm at Kennebunk Town Hall on Feb. 6, 2023, Select Board Vice Chair Kortney Nedeau announced on Tuesday.
“We are so excited and looking forward to welcoming Heather to town,” Nedeau said.
According to Nedeau, the board voted unanimously to select Balser after resuming a special public meeting after an executive session on Tuesday.
Nedeau said details of the town’s contract with Balser will become available once Balser officially signs it. Currently, Balser is in Colorado.
Nedeau confirmed that the contract is a three-year one that will expire on Dec. 31, 2025.
Nedeau praised Balser, describing her as a “managerial visionary” who is experienced, versatile, organized, thorough, and someone who wants to be a collaborator with the town’s department heads and others.
“She gets it,” Nedeau said.
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Balser bested four other finalists, Joshua Avila, Marguerite Fleming, David Johnston, and Peter Joseph, all of whom the public got to know a bit during a meet-and-greet at the town hall in November.
Balser will succeed Town Manager Michael Pardue, who stepped down from his post in November. Pardue is now the town manager in Wells.
Public Services Director Bryan Laverriere has been serving as manager on an interim basis and will resume that position full-time once Balser is settled in her new role.
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The town received more than 50 resumes from applicants during the recruitment process this past summer, according to Nedeau. The Select Board and two panels – one comprised of town officials, the other of residents and community stakeholders – conducted interviews this fall. The board and Balser negotiated her contract during executive sessions in recent weeks.
According to the website for the City of Louisville, Balser was appointed city manager in that community in 2017. In all, she has been with the city government for more than 20 years in various positions, including deputy city manager, starting in 2009. She served as city manager of Louisville on an interim basis from 2006 to 2007.
According to an article in Colorado Hometown Weekly, Balser stepped down as city manager of Louisville in the summer of 2021, in order to pursue new endeavors. In the article, Mayor Ashley Stolzmann described Balser as hardworking.
“She never takes credit for her accomplishments but is always working behind the scenes to try and help our community get the very best outcomes,” Stolzmann said.
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Balser is a native of Maine and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Bates College. She also has a Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.
On her LinkedIn social media page, Balser describes herself as a “passionate advocate for supporting and strengthening local communities.”
Nedeau praised Balser for the understanding of Maine that she showed during the interviewing process, adding that “it felt like she’d been here a long time.”
“She’s essentially coming home,” Nedeau said.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Louisville, Colorado ex city manager Heather Balser named Kennebunk, Maine town manager
