GARDINER — City Manager Robert Peabody submitted his resignation to the City Council Wednesday, ending his time in the office after only four months.

Mayor Patricia Hart announced Peabody’s resignation, which will be effective Aug. 8, to city staff in an email Thursday morning. She said the council would discuss his resignation letter and next steps during their next meeting on June 11.

“On behalf of the City Council, I want to express our gratitude for his contributions during his time with the city and wish him well in the future,” Hart said in the email.

Peabody’s letter was just two paragraphs long and did not name a specific reason for his resignation.

“I believe my resignation is in the best interest of the City and for myself,” the letter said. “I would like to thank the Council for the opportunity to have served as City Manager. I am happy to share that I intend to continue to reside in Gardiner and will seek opportunities to contribute to its well-being going forward.”

RP Resignation Letter by Maine Trust For Local News on Scribd

Peabody joined Gardiner’s staff on Feb. 3 after a five-month search. A Bath native, Peabody was Bridgton’s town manager for 10 years, until a divided Bridgton Select Board chose not to renew his contract last year. Before he worked in Bridgton, Peabody was Rockport’s town manager for almost a decade.

Peabody’s resignation came in an executive session following Wednesday’s regular City Council meeting. Earlier in the meeting, councilors approved a final version of the municipal budget, which will be voted on at the June 11 and 18 meetings.

Peabody joins a growing list of city and town managers in central Maine to leave their post after a short period of time. Recently, town managers in Skowhegan and Winslow left after only a year on staff — but Peabody’s term of just four months stands out as among the shortest in recent memory.

Neither Hart nor Peabody immediately responded to a request for comment.