Brewer has a new city manager.
City councilors appointed Eric Glidden to be the community’s new city manager during a council meeting on Tuesday. The decision took effect Tuesday and Glidden’s term will last until June 30, 2027, according to city council agenda documents.
Glidden began serving as Brewer’s interim city manager in November 2023 when longtime city manager Stephen Bost went out on medical leave. At the time, Glidden had been in the position of assistant city manager for just 11 days.
Glidden maintained the role of interim city manager when Bost retired in September after 25 years in the role.
While Glidden aspired to rise to the post of city manager eventually, he said he never expected to take on the position so early in his tenure. At the time, he was still learning the names of staff and getting acquainted with all the functions of the city, so he said he leaned heavily on department heads who had been with the city for many years.
“It was certainly challenging, but we pushed through and I think we’re all better for it,” Glidden said. “I’ve tried to make sure there’s some continuity for both staff and residents.”
In the last year, Glidden said he has worked to help the City Council fulfill some long-term goals, such as creating a monthly newsletter to keep residents informed. The city also began livestreaming public meetings for residents who aren’t able to attend.
Now that he has officially secured the city manager position, Glidden said he wants to continue working to ensure residents are aware of the operations and decisions made within city hall. Additionally, he wants people to feel they can share their thoughts and ideas with city staff.
“In addition to helping communities achieve their goals, I enjoy getting to know the people and learning what they want their community to look like in the next 10, 15 or 20 years,” Glidden said. “I want residents in Brewer to feel they’re part of this community and their voices are heard.”
Glidden graduated from the University of Maine in 2008. His previous experience in local government includes serving as a town clerk in Hermon and Searsport, and working as a management assistant in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Glidden took over as assistant Brewer city manager in October 2023, two weeks after the former assistant manager, James Smith, left to become Bar Harbor’s town manager.
When he accepted the position, Glidden said it “felt like a homecoming in many ways,” because he spent a portion of his childhood in Brewer before his family moved to Hampden in 1992.
“Brewer is an up-and-coming community and has a lot of potential,” Glidden said. “It’s a desirable place to live and being a part of that is very exciting for me.”
