By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer 

CASCO — One of the people sitting in the audience at the selectmen’s meeting will soon be sitting at the selectmen’s table during the meetings, will soon have an office in the Casco Town Hall.

The Casco Board of Selectmen on Tuesday signed a three-year employment contract with the future Casco Town Manager Brenda Fox-Howard.

Fox-Howard attended the selectmen’s meeting. She was invited to step to the microphone and say a few words.  

“I am happy to have accepted your offer of employment,” she said. 

“I am looking forward to working for and with everyone in the town. I am excited. There are a lot of things going on,” she said. 

She commented on one of the topics that had been discussed — whether to hold the upcoming annual town meeting as a secret ballot election or in-person voting.  

“New Gloucester finally decided to do the ballot as well. That is better. It’s just safer, especially if you have a system down,” she said.

Fox-Howard is currently the town manager of New Gloucester. 

Chairman Thomas Peaslee said that the board hired Fox-Howard. 

He said the employment contract is for three years: Beginning April 5, 2021, and expiring April 4, 2024.

Her salary will be $97,000 a year, Peaslee said.  There will be a six-month evaluation, during which time if the board determines her performance to be satisfactory, the salary will increase to $100,000 a year, he said. 

The board voted, 4-0 to approve the contract. Selectman Robert MacDonald was absent.