Former Wiscasset town planner Ben Averill has accepted a position with Auburn as economic development specialist, Auburn Assistant City Manager Denise Clavette said Monday.

“Ben came in today to do introductions,” she said. “He could start as early as today, or perhaps next week.”

Averill’s job with Wiscasset was cut when the town voted nearly 2-1 in June to eliminate his department.

Averill had worked closely with the Planning Board, the Waterfront and Ordinance Review committees and the Wiscasset Historic Preservation Commission, helping with agendas, getting required public notices published, and getting other information to the public. He had also been working to make Wiscasset a Certified Local Government, which would make many grants available for historic district support.

A petition drive spearheaded by the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce to replace the funding for the planning department was successful, but selectmen recently chose to seek legal counsel before setting a date for an open town meeting on it.