NEW GLOUCESTER — Paul First will serve as interim town planner while a search is underway to fill the position permanently, town officials announced Friday.

Paul First Eillie Fellers photo

The position is nothing new to First. The Durham man had served as New Gloucester’s town planner from 2009 through February 2014 when he was named full-time town manager, replacing Sumner Field, who retired.

He left the post in the spring of 2017 for personal reasons.

First holds a master’s degree in community land planning from the State University of New York.