ROCKPORT – Rockport has hired Jon Duke as its next town manager.

“Excitement is probably not an understatement,” said Duke, after the Select Board voted at a 7 a.m. May 20 meeting to hire Duke. “The chance to come back home and make Rockport better than it already is an opportunity I have looked forward to for a long time.”

Duke was hired for a three-year term with an annual salary of $101,970.

He is a Rockport town resident, and had served himself on the Rockport Select Board.

Jon’s father, Robert Duke, has been running for a seat on the select board, with elections to be held June 8. To avoid conflict of interest, however, he will not serve if elected.

And, he is resigning all committees as of today, said Jon Duke. 

“He’s stepping back,” said Jon.

“The Select Board is pleased to announce that the Town of Rockport has hired Jonathan R. Duke as the new Rockport Town Manager effective July 6, 2021,” wrote Select Board Chair Debra Hall, in a morning statement following a 7 a.m. board meeting, May 20. “Jonathan is a life-long Rockport resident. He has previously served as Town Administrator of Hope and currently is the Town Manager of Newcastle.”

She added: “Jonathan has the full support of the Select Board. He will bring an energy and passion to the town manager position that will be beneficial for the town, its residents and businesses. We look forward to his starting with the town in early July.”

The Town Manager position will be vacant as of May 27, when current Town Manager William Post leaves the position to assume his new position as county administrator for Sagadahoc County.

Although the board was to also address at the same May 20 meeting the appointment of an interim town manager, Hall wrote: “The Select Board will make a decision soon about coverage for the interim period of time.”