The Boothbay selectmen aren’t sure what the next step is in selecting a new town manager.

The selectmen scheduled five interviews with prospective candidates on March 30 and 31, but they held only three. Two candidates canceled interviews after accepting other positions, according to Selectman Steven Lewis.

The selectmen have instructed the three candidates to keep April 14 open as a “hold date.”

“We’re not sure what the next step is,” Lewis said on April 3. The hold date gives the selectman time to consider to conducting more interviews, hiring one of the three or advertising the position again.

The selectmen are being advised on the new town manager search by David Barrett, the Maine Municipal Association’s director of personnel services and labor relations.

Barrett reported the town received 37 applications and selected five for interviews. He declined to report if the three remaining candidates were current town managers or identify their genders.

Boothbay is searching for a replacement for former Town Manager James Chaousis. Code Enforcement Officer Daniel Bryer has served as interim town manager since Chaousis’ departure for the city manager’s position in Rockland on March 2.