SACO — Fire Chief John Duross has been appointed the interim Saco city administrator.

In May, City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath announced he was leaving the position on July 7, to take on a new job as city manager of Waterville.

On June 5, after a closed-door executive session, the City Council voted to appoint Duross as interim city administrator beginning July 8. The vote was unanimous, with Deputy Mayor Jodi MacPhail abstaining from the vote as she sat in for the mayor, who was absent.

Duross has worked for the City of Saco for more than 40 years. He started as a junior firefighter in high school, and shortly after graduating from Thornton Academy in 1980, he was hired as a full-time firefighter, according to a written statement from the City of Saco. Over the years Duross became Captain, then Deputy Chief, and in 2010 was appointed Fire Chief.

In 2019, Duross earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the York County Fire Chiefs' Association, and in 2020 was named Maine Fire Chief of the Year by the Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association.

Duross will serve as interim city administrator until a permanent replacement is hired. Kaenrath worked with Duross since he was appointed interim to ensure a seamless transition, according to city officials.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.