Topsham creates new planning and codes coordinator position

Topsham added a newly created Planning & Codes Coordinator job to its staffing lineup, with applications due July 24 for a role meant to keep permit and review work moving more smoothly through town government. The posting pointed to a more hands-on coordination job than a typical front-desk opening, placing the new hire close to the daily flow of development, zoning questions and code-related requests.

The town said the coordinator will help facilitate project coordination throughout the municipal permitting and review process, while also handling office administration, record-keeping, initial permit review, public inquiries, meeting schedules and questions about town ordinances. In practice, that kind of position can make a difference for builders, property owners and residents trying to find out what comes next, how long a review may take and which board or department needs to see a proposal first.

Topsham described the job as part of its combined Planning & Codes team, calling it a newly created position within the department. That matters in a town that says it is a Maine-certified business-friendly community of close to 9,000 residents, spread across about 36 square miles and bordering Merrymeeting Bay at the mouth of the Androscoggin River. A dedicated coordination role suggests the town is formalizing work that may have been spread across several staff members, with the goal of keeping applications organized as development pressure continues.

The planning office already supports a wide list of town bodies, including the Topsham Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Historic District Commission, Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee and Energy Committee. Its core work includes developing and updating comprehensive plans, maintaining land use ordinances, reviewing development proposals and providing land-use information to the public. Adding a coordinator gives that system a clearer front door, especially for people who need an answer before a project can move forward.

The posting listed a preferred bachelor’s degree in administration, business, planning or a related field and identified the job as full time. A reposted listing said the wage was $26.49 an hour with full benefits, including health, dental, retirement options and paid time off.

Topsham also pushed the opening through the Maine Municipal Association’s Municipal Career Center and the Maine Association of Planners, widening the pool beyond the town’s own website. The vacancy appeared alongside other active openings, including firefighter/paramedic or advanced EMT and truck driver/laborer jobs, as the town managed multiple hiring needs at once. That came as the Topsham Planning Board met June 25 and the Select Board was scheduled for July 2, putting the new coordinator role into a busy local calendar where permit questions, land-use reviews and board agendas were already in motion.