By Carol McCracken  (Post # 817)

The City  has announced that Mark Rees will start as city manager on July 20, 2011.   Reed was selected to serve as Portland’s city manager after a nationwide search earlier this year to replace Joe Gray, Jr. who retired.   The search committee was composed of Councilors Cheryl Leeman (chair), Jill Duson and John Anton.  Rees was formally appointed by the City Council on June 6.

“I am eager to get started in Portland and am very happy that I will be able to start earlier than anticipated. I look forward to meeting with City officials, residents and employees and to begin helping Portland continue to more forward in a positive direction,” said Rees in a press release issued by the city yesterday.  It had been anticipated that he would not start until September 1st.

Prior to his current role as Town Manager in North Andover, MA., Rees served as the Chief Financial Officer for Framingham, MA.   During his five year tenure there, he developed the town’s first five-year capital budget plan and financial forecast.  He is credited with developing fiscal policies that reversed a three-year trend of operating deficits and sustained the community’s AA3 bond rating.

Please see Post # 799, dated June 7, herein for more background information.