SCARBOROUGH — The town has hired a new assistant town manager from a pool of nearly 60 applicants for the position. 

Larissa Crockett, of Acton, will, among other things, oversee a new sustainability coordinator position and help develop the town budget. She will draw an annual salary of approximately $64,000, according to Town Manager Tom Hall, and will start work Monday, Oct. 3.

Hall announced Crockett’s appointment at the Sept. 21 Town Council meeting. He said he doesn’t think the town has ever had an assistant manager. 

“Scarborough is a large enough community, with a complex enough government structure” to make good use of such a position, Hall said Thursday morning.

Crockett holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, and a master’s degree in policy, planning and management from the University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service.

She is a former Acton selectman, and was chairwoman of the town’s Warrant and Finance Committee; served on the Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee, where she reviewed bills before the Legislature on behalf of the state’s municipalities, and is a member of the board of Levey Day School in Portland.

She also ran as a Democratic candidate in House District 144 in 2010, but withdrew after the June primary.

In her new position, Crockett will play a major part in developing the town’s capital and operating budgets, help with benchmarking and trend analysis, and supervise the town’s purchasing specialist and new sustainability coordinator.

Town Councilor Chris Caiazzo, who participated in the interview process, said Crockett is a great choice because she has versatile experience.

“She certainly has the financial background, from an academic standpoint, and the thing I also appreciate (is) her public (service) experience, as well,” not just as an administrator, but as a representative, Caiazzo said Thursday morning. 

“I really do feel like, out of the (application) field, she certainly stood out as being both capable and the right personality mix,” he said. 

Crockett was not available to comment by press time Thursday. Her LinkedIn profile, however, includes this statement: “I believe that a life in service to our community is a life well spent. Public service and education are two passions that continue to guide how I spend my time and energy.”

Alex Acquisto can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or aacquisto@theforecaster.net. Follow Alex on Twitter: @AcquistoA. 

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