POLAND — Consultants from Eaton-Peabody on Monday listened to residents’ thoughts on the qualities, background and experience they would like to see in a new town manager.

“The person we hire ought to have a business degree and financial experience,” Sandy Macauley said. “We’re looking forward to expanding business in town.”

“Definitely should have an understanding of (Tax Increment Financing) and credit enhancement,” Don Stover said. “I’ve seen instances where we could have gone after grants, conservation or for the library, that didn’t happen. So grant writing would be important.”

Other qualities mentioned included: honesty, a good communicator, a good listener, a willingness to consider all sides of a situation and a team player.

Strong leadership abilities, the ability to work with surrounding towns, practical knowledge of how towns operate and an insistence that the Town Charter be followed were other qualities mentioned.

“We have good people working for the town,” Macauley said. “The person hired (as town manager) should work with the strengths of the staff.”

Earlier in the day, consultants Don Gerrish and Richard Metivier met with most of the town staff to ask them the same general questions.

“What I heard earlier is quite similar to what people are saying tonight,” Gerrish said, “and to what others have said, I’d add ‘has a sense of humor.’”

The consultants will present their findings to the selection committee at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at a location to be determined.

Selectman Steve Robinson said the Selection Committee will work Thursday on the wording for advertisements and establishing an approximate time time for hiring a town manager.

“Right now, our goal would be to hire someone by March,” Robinson said.

Gerrish said once the Selection Committee has whittled the list of candidates to three, the intent is to hold an evening social for residents to meet the finalists in a relatively informal setting.

“We’re trying to be as inclusive as we can make it in this process, within legal limits,” Robinson said.

Robinson said the general public is welcome to attend Thursday’s meeting and should contact the Town Office or members of the Selection Committee before then to find out where the meeting will be held.

Selection Committee members include Selectmen Steve Robinson, Janice Kimball, Stan Tetenman, James Walker Jr. and Walter Gallagher, and Judy Akers, Leo Ferland, Zakk Maher and Cherie Sargent.