JAY — Selectpersons unanimously voted Monday and with “deep regret” to accept the resignation of Town Manager Ruth Cushman. If all goes as planned, her last day on the job will be Feb. 24, according to a resignation letter Chairman Steve McCourt read during the Board of Selectpersons meeting.

Cushman plans to retire. She will be the town manager of Jay for 13 years in January 2014.

She will be on the payroll until March or April to use up accrued vacation and floating holidays.

“If all goes well, we will have someone in place and up to speed by the time that I am planning on being done,” she wrote.

It is a wonderful thing when a manager moves on by their own choice, she said.

“Often, this is not the way a manager’s tenure ends,” she said. “I have been very fortunate to have the support of the board and of the department heads and staff.”

She told the board she would help them in their search for a new manager but won’t choose one for the town. That will be up to selectpersons.

Cushman also said she would only be a phone call away if the board or new town manager needs any help.

“Over the next few months, you will be facing union negotiations, budgets, legislative issues and valuation challenges to name a few,” she wrote.

She wrote that she only wants the best for the future of Jay.

“I leave it in very capable hands,” she said.

In order to make it all work, the town needs to put out want ads, which Cushman already has  developed. An ad will also be posted on the town’s website.

The plan is to have resumes due back on Dec. 19 and then hold a workshop to review the applications.

The Board of Selectpersons is the hiring committee. Cushman said she expects the board will want to interview six to eight candidates and narrow the field from there. She is hoping the board has someone on board in February.

Selectpersons thanked Cushman for her service and her dedication to them and the people of Jay.

“I have been here eight years and I hope the next town manager is as helpful to their board as Ruth has been very good to me,” McCourt said.

dperry@sunjournal.com