Oakland terminates interim town manager

The Oakland Town Commission voted at its May 9 meeting to terminate interim town manager Jack Butler without cause and to appoint Town Clerk Elise Hui as the interim manager until a permanent one can be hired.

“The town of Oakland has voted to terminate Jack Butler without cause effective immediately,” Mayor Kathy Stark said. “Severances will be paid based on his contract terms.”

Butler has been serving as interim manager since the previous town manager, Steve Koontz, retired April 1.

“It’s not for cause, and we wish him well,” Stark stressed of Butler’s termination.

The Town Commission engaged an executive recruitment firm to manage the process of recruiting a permanent town manager. The town has looked at all the applications, and the search has been narrowed to five.

“We are hopeful that we’ll be able to make an offer next Friday,” Stark said.

Hui will handle both job duties until a new manager is hired.