SWH, Tremont lose heir apparent to code enforcement officer
SOUTHWEST HARBOR, Sept. 23, 2024 - The town has lost its code enforcement officer designate, whom it shared with neighboring Tremont.
Both Town Manager Marilyn Lowell and Tremont Town Manager Jesse Dunbar confirmed Katie Parsons, who was to take over for John Larson in January, has resigned for medical reasons effective Sept. 12.
Lowell stated in an email, “I have spoken with John Larson, and he will be staying on as CEO until the end of January 2025. At that time, it will be determined if the Select Board would like to re-appoint him, if no one has been hired.
“Should the board wish to confirm the resignation, I respectfully suggest passage of a motion to confirm acceptance of Katie Parson’s resignation with a thank you for her work and time spent at SW Harbor.”
Lowell said Larson’s state certification expires at the end of January and he would need to be retested to extend his license.
Tremont and Southwest Harbor were able to share a full-time position with benefits.
Parsons had been under training since the spring.
Tonight’s select board meeting will be Lowell’s last and the first for new Town Manager Karen Reddersen, who was hired to a three-year contract in July.
Reddersen recently was the extension director for the University of Maryland. Before that she worked in procurement and HR for the city of Salisbury, Maryland.
She recently purchased property in Southwest Harbor and is familiar with the area. It has been 10 or more years since a town manager lived in Southwest Harbor.
Lowell was appointed town manager in 2021 and previously was town clerk. In all, Lowell has spent 22 years working in municipal government, with the last 11 here.