Don Gerrish is returning February 10 as Wiscasset's interim town manager, the same role he filled for the town in 2010 before Town Manager Laurie Smith was hired.

Gerrish will work about three days a week, for $500 a day until Smith's replacement is hired, town officials said.

Selectmen's Chairman Ed Polewarczyk announced Gerrish's appointment at the board's January 7 meeting.

Residents will get to share their ideas on what they want to see in a town manager on January 16. A meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the municipal building, to hear what characteristics and experience townspeople think the next manager should have, Polewarczyk said.

In another development, a consultant who matched Damariscotta up with Matt Lutkus to be its town manager is helping Wiscasset find its next one.

Richard Metivier of the Eaton Peabody consulting firm will be working with Wiscasset selectmen on the town manager search, Smith said January 7.

The firm is being paid $4,500 for its work on the search, Smith said.

Selectmen met with Metivier about the search in a nearly one-hour, closed-door session Tuesday night.

In addition to Lutkus in Damariscotta, Metivier said he has helped find managers for Rockland, Freeport, Auburn and Old Town.

Smith's last day as Wiscasset's town manager is February 7. She's moving on to become Kennebunkport's town manager.

Also Tuesday, night, budget committee member Norman Guidoboni thanked Smith for her service. “We're going to miss you,” he told her during the meeting's public comment time. He knows she'll do a bang-up job in Kennebunkport, he said. “Our loss, their gain.”