WINDSOR -- After three years as town manager, Carl Pease has resigned for personal reasons, according to selectmen.

Selectman Jerry Nault said Pease offered his resignation to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday. Nault said Sarah Cunningham, town clerk and deputy town treasurer, was appointed interim treasurer until another town manager is hired. Pease also was town treasurer.

"The action was accepted by the board at a meeting on Tuesday and it is effective immediately," Nault said.

Pease declined to comment Wednesday.

Stephen Bishop, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said it wasn't a surprise to anyone that Pease decided to quit.

"He had personal reasons ... but I think it was somewhat expected," Pease said Wednesday.

When Pease was first hired, Bishop said he lived in the Hampden area and commuted a considerable distance but had since moved to Windsor.

"He was involved in the Hampden town business up there in some fashion, on the Planning Board or something of that nature," he said. "We had a committee at that time that reviewed the resumes. They obviously presented a list of recommendations to us, but I don't recall what job he held prior to coming to the town."

Bishop said Pease was involved in a number of special projects including Town Hall renovations.

Eventually, he said, the town manager position will be filled. It took up to six months last time to narrow down the candidates.

"Obviously, we're right at the end of a budget year and soon to start a new one, so we're not going to get to it until we get into a new year," he said. "The search process is going to take some time. In the next week or two, we might advertise the position to get things rolling. It's not a quick and dirty process, only because you want to find the right person with the right skills that fit that position."

The right candidate, he said, would be someone with a well-rounded personality with experience in formulating a budget. That person also would need management experience and to have worked with municipal public works and transportation personnel to oversee those operations.

Mary Sabins, the town manager prior to Pease, was in the post two or three years, Bishop said.

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com