The town of Standish appointed a new finance director and treasurer last week to fill the position that has been open since mid-January. Portland resident Dana Fischer, 35, officially began his duties last Wednesday.
Employed as budget analyst by the town of Falmouth for the last three years, Fischer said he is eager to learn the intricacies of Standish’s operating budget. And with the position vacant for more than two months, he says there is a lot to be done.
In his previous position, Fischer became familiar with MUNIS, Standish’s new budget software program. His familiarity with this program will enable him to plunge right into his new duties.
At his swearing in during the Town Council meeting, Council Chair Cindy Hopkins said they are very excited about Fischer and the experience he brings to the town.
“He’s got a lot of experience in the budget process, working with the council and working with budget committees and finance committees,” she said.
In addition to earning his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine, Fischer has attended brewing school, pursuing a one-year course of study in fermentation science, which culminated in a nine-hour essay exam in London.
His resulting certification as a brewmaster from the University of California-Davis afforded Fischer the chance to build a few breweries, design recipes and make beer. He worked at Casco Bay Brewing Company in Maine, set up a brewery in Massachusetts and worked for three years in a brewery in North Carolina.
Although Fischer still grows hops in his backyard, he made the career switch to finance when he and his wife decided to start a family. And the couple moved back to Maine to raise their two children, a five-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.
Fischer is originally from Bolton, Massachusetts but has fond memories of summers in Maine.
“I’ve been coming up to the Lakes Region as long as I can remember,” he said in a recent phone interview.
Fischer replaces Richard R. LaGarde, who left Standish to become treasurer for the city of Portland. LaGarde had served as the town’s finance director for the past eighteen months.
At Fischer’s swearing in, Councilor Dolores Lymburner welcomed him to Standish, saying she had been impressed by his interview and was glad he had accepted the position.
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