PORTLAND — Casco Bay Lines board members hope to hire a new general manager by the end of the year.

Matt Hoffner, a member of the Casco Bay Island Transit District Board of Directors who is leading the search committee, said this week he expects the committee to advertise for the position in the beginning of September.

The ferry service is looking for a replacement for Catherine Debo, who resigned in June. Nick Mavodones, the operations manager, is filling in as interim general manager.

The search committee is scheduled to meet for the first time Wednesday morning. Members of the committee include board members Hoffner, Chris Hoppin, Sue Moreau and Scott Johnston, island residents Mary McAleney and Steve Schuitt, Senior Capt. Gene Willard and finance director Barbara Sawtelle.

Donna Rockett, president of the CBITD board, said the committee is a balance of “down bay, inner bay and Peaks Island representatives and a couple employees.”

Hoffner said that after the committee reviews and updates the job description and creates a list of qualifications, it will advertise the position online. He said he hopes the committee will be able to vet candidates and forward selections to the full board by the end of October. The board is expected to interview candidates in November.

“Our hope is to have someone by the end of the year,” he said.

While the initial search committee meetings will be open to the public, Hoffner said review of applications and interviews will happen in closed-door sessions.

Kate Bucklin can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or kbucklin@theforecaster.net