DERRY — The Town Council recently approved the appointment of Assistant Town Treasurer Robert Gorham to take the place of departing longtime treasurer Rita Correia.

Correia recently resigned her position of town treasurer after serving in that role for more than a quarter-century.

“This is no surprise,” said Assistant Town Administrator Larry Budreau. “She had mentioned this well in advance, and it was tied into putting her home on the market so she could move closer to her family. This came about more quickly than she thought it might.”

The council unanimously approved Gorham’s move from assistant treasurer to treasurer to serve out the remainder of Correia’s term.

“Mr. Gorham has been the deputy treasurer for a number of years, and he has agreed to assume the treasurer position until March 2013,” said Budreau. “He brings many years of senior banking experience, and he is able and qualified to assume the treasurer’s responsibilities.”

Several town councilors praised the selection of Gorham as the town’s acting treasurer.

“This is a guy who knows finances,” said Councilor Joel Olbricht. “He will be a perfect fit.”

To replace Gorham as assistant town treasurer, the council approved the appointment of Frank Childs, town finance director, to serve in that role until March 2013.

The town’s auditors and legal counsel both gave the OK to having Childs serve as finance director and assistant treasurer, according to Budreau.

Although Gorham will be serving out the remainder of Correia’s elected term, voters approved a change in the town charter that makes the position an appointed one as of the end of the current term.

Correia supported the change in the town charter.

“The treasurer’s job has changed significantly over time since I became treasurer,” said Correia at a public hearing on the charter change. “The job has changed significantly over time, and it’s a lot more cumbersome now. A person who does the job really needs to have an accounting background.”

Under the new process, the town administrator will recommend an appointment that will then have to be approved by the council.

The appointed treasurer will then have the ability to appoint the deputy treasurer, pending approval by the council.

There is not an exact timeline for the treasurer selection process, but Budreau said he expects there to be an appointed treasurer ready to go by the time Correia’s elected term ends in March.

aswift@newstote.com