The Woolwich Select Board is starting off the new year searching for a new town administrator following the recent resignation of Katie Johnston of Bath.

“Officially her last day for us was Dec. 31,” David King Sr., select board chairman, said Monday morning. King said Johnston notified the board last month she’d been offered and taken a job as assistant director of finance at Portland International Jetport.

“We were very sorry to see Katie leave but we couldn’t blame her, it was a good career move,” added King.

Selectman Allison Hepler said Johnston will be missed. Over the past year she really “steadied the ship,” Hepler commented in an email. “We are in good shape for the next person. I’m very grateful for that,” she wrote.

The select board scheduled an executive session for Monday afternoon to begin reviewing applications for the town administrator vacancy.

King said the town office had received over a dozen applications since the position was advertised almost three weeks ago. The application deadline was Jan. 4. The annual salary he added, was $40,000-plus and requires a six-month probationary period.

Along with assisting the board, the town administrator serves as treasurer and oversees the day-to-day operation of the town office.

A year ago, the board promoted Johnston from tax collector to town administrator. The board hired Johnston as tax collector/deputy town clerk in July 2017.