Auburn city manager to retire, successor named
Courtesy / City of Auburn
Peter Crichton, who has served as Auburn’s city manager since April 2017, will retire at the end of June after 35 years in public service.
Peter Crichton, who has served as Auburn’s city manager since April 2017, has announced he will retire at the end of June.
His 35-year professional life has been dedicated to public service, Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque said in a news release Tuesday.
“I am truly sorry to see him go,” Levesque said. “Peter was hired to bring stability to Auburn Hall, and he has done that and so much more. His wisdom, spirit of collaboration, fair and determined leadership, and vision for Auburn have brought civility back to local government and helped transform this community.”
Crichton began his career in municipal government in his home town of Mars Hill as its first economic community development director.
He then spent 10 years with the city of Lewiston, first as administrator of Lewiston Public Works, then as assistant city administrator. Prior to joining the city of Auburn, Crichton managed Cumberland County for 18 years.
"It has truly been a privilege and honor for me to serve the City of Auburn,” Crichton said in the release. “I have been proud to work as part of this amazing team, from the talented and supportive staff, to the mayor and city councilors, to the residents and our community partners.
"Auburn is a unique and special small city, one of the very best in the country. I am pleased to have been a part of celebrating 150 years of Auburn’s heritage history and honor, and the opportunity to help guide the city onto a positive path toward the next 150 years.”
Crichton, a Windham resident, grew up in Aroostook County. He said he is looking forward to spending time with his family, especially his granddaughters, and to golf, travel and new professional opportunities.
In early March, the city council is expected to appoint Phillip L. Crowell Jr. as Auburn’s next city manager. Crowell has served as assistant city manager since August 2018, when he retired after serving the Auburn Police Department for 25 years, the last 12 as chief.
A lifelong resident of Auburn, Crowell began his law enforcement career in 1986 as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. He joined the Auburn police as a patrol officer in 1993. In 2006, he was promoted to chief of police.
Crowell has served on numerous local boards, including ones for Auburn PAL, the Promise Early Education Center, Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice, and the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. Most recently, he spearheaded the city of Auburn’s strategic planning process.
Crowell is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Maine at Augusta. He is married and and has two adult children.
“As a lifetime Auburn resident, Phil has dedicated more than 25 years to our great city and we all should be grateful and excited that Phil will continue to lead us towards a promising future,” Levesque said in the release.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments