Old Orchard Beach town manager exits 2 weeks after starting
Old Orchard Beach — The town’s newly‑appointed manager, Timothy Pellerin, has stepped down after just two weeks on the job.
In a brief letter dated June 15, Pellerin notified the Town Council that he would resign, but he did not say why or when his last day will be. The council has not released any additional information.
“There’s really nothing to say. It’s really not public information,” said Town Council Vice Chair Michael Tousignant when asked about the sudden departure. The council has yet to comment on Pellerin’s final paycheck or whether any penalties will apply under his contract.
Pellerin was hired in May to replace Diana Asanza, who had served as town manager for 14 years. Asanza announced her retirement in January and will officially step down on July 3. With Asanza’s exit next month, Old Orchard Beach will be left without a town manager. The council has not named an interim or permanent replacement.
Under a two‑year contract that runs through June 1, 2028, Pellerin was set to earn an annual salary of $142,000. After a six‑month probationary period he was slated to receive a raise to $150,000. It is unclear whether his early resignation will trigger any financial penalties.
Pellerin’s résumé is extensive. Prior to Old Orchard Beach, he spent five years as the town manager of South Berwick. He also held the same position in Rangeley and Harrison, served as director of emergency management for Lincoln County, was deputy fire chief in Westbrook, and worked as a firefighter in Brunswick.
His resignation comes amid a broader struggle across Maine for towns and cities to retain long‑term leadership. In the past three years, at least 25 municipalities have seen their managers depart.
The Town Council has not yet announced a successor, leaving the town’s administrative operations in limbo as Asanza prepares to finish her tenure next month. The board’s decision to proceed without a full‑time or interim manager has raised questions about how the municipality will handle day‑to‑day affairs in the coming weeks.
