AUGUSTA — The city has chosen an acting city manager to oversee city operations after longtime manager William Bridgeo retires and while the search goes on for his replacement.

Susan Robertson, director of human resources and assistant city manager in Augusta, will serve in the acting city manager role until a permanent replacement is found.

City Manager William Bridgeo listens during an Augusta City Council goal-setting event Jan. 11 at the Augusta Civic Center. Bridgeo encouraged the council to rescind his order closing nonessential businesses and asking people to stay-at-home after Gov. Janet Mills issued a similar edict on a statewide scale. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

City Councilors voted unanimously Thursday in favor of Bridgeo’s recommendation to have Robertson serve as interim manager, for an additional $200 stipend of pay per week. On top of her regular annual salary, of $131,000 a year.

“I want the public to be aware Susan is extraordinarily well qualified to step into this position, and I think we as a community are fortunate to have her available to do that,” Bridgeo told councilors before their 7-0 vote. “She has an almost 40-year career in municipal government at this point. So folks can rest assured that during the period of time it takes you to find a full-time replacement for me that the city will be in good hands with Susan Robertson.”

Robertson, before coming to Augusta, was city administrator for seven years in Sun Valley, Idaho. In the 1990s she was Bridgeo’s assistant city manager when the pair worked in Canandaigua, New York.

Bridgeo’s last day on the job is expected to be Sept. 13. Robertson is thus scheduled to begin her duties as acting manager Sept. 14 for, according to Thursday’s agenda item, an indefinite period of time.

Robertson has previously told city councilors she will not be a candidate for the permanent city manager’s job.

Don Gerrish, a consultant with Eaton Peabody, who is leading Augusta’s search for Bridgeo’s replacement, said in July the goal is to have a new city manager chosen by mid-October. But depending on the new hire’s personal situation, it could still be another 45 days before they could start the job in Augusta.

Bridgeo, 71, in his 23rd year as Augusta’s manager and 43rd year in municipal management, announced his plans to retire in April.