Lincoln County Administrator James McMahon has accepted an offer to continue working for the county after his contract expires December 31.

The commissioners were successful in talking McMahon into staying on for another year with a caveat of giving him three months off without pay during the winter months.

"Since Jim's main desire is to spend the winter months with his wife at their winter residence in Florida," Commissioner Blodgett said, "it has been agreed that he will extend his employment agreement for another year, and that the board will grant him a leave, without pay, during the months of January, February, and March of 2008."

According to the commissioners, McMahon's performance as County Administrator has been very satisfactory. He has prepared several new and important policy and procedure manuals for the county and is now following through with their implementation.

In addition to serving as the administrator, he serves as the purchasing agent and personnel manager. He has overseen a number of successful projects and has created a new budget format that is intended to be more informative and easier to understand. He also oversees several departments including the commissioner's staff, county recycling, and maintenance department.

According to Blodgett, McMahon is knowledgeable about the laws and he tries to anticipate problems in order to keep the county out of trouble. He understands the nature of the position and respects the policy making role and the authority of the commissioners.

McMahon helped write the law that established the county administrator's position in Maine during the late 1960s

McMahon's many accomplishments since taking over as administrator include: a safety manual for each area of work; updating of county job descriptions; a new job application form; the state-mandated universal waste policy; an updated telephone system for the county offices; and supervision of the changes in office spaces at the courthouse.

McMahon has decades of experience in town and state government, first as a selectman from Kennebunk from 1969 to 1972. He served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1972-1980, as a York County Commissioner from 1982-1986 and York County treasurer from 1991 to 1994. In addition he has a combined 20 years of experience as town manager in Ogunquit, Bridgton, Berwick and Sewall's Point, Fla.

The commissioners will appoint an acting administrator to serve during the months that McMahon will be in Florida. However, he has agreed to be available to assist that person and the commissioners by phone whenever needed.

"We feel this arrangement is mutually beneficial as the new budget and current projects will be completed by the end of this year, and the winter months are normally the slowest time of the year," Blodgett said.

McMahon will return to work in April 2008 on a full-time basis.