Preston – The town has received more than 40 applicants for the combined town and school finance director position, the town’s search consultant said Tuesday.

Preston hired the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education to oversee the applicant search to replace former Finance Director Robert A. Sirpenski, who became finance director for the Waterford school system.

Paul Gagliarducci, associate search consultant for CABE, said he and CABE Senior Search Consultant Jacqueline Jacoby will review the applications and will forward several recommended finalist candidates to a subcommittee of two members each from the boards of selectmen, education and finance.

The subcommittee will forward its recommended finalists to First Selectman Robert Congdon, school Superintendent John Welch and Board of Finance Chairman Jerry Grabarek. The three town leaders will make the final decision.

Gagliarducci said the search process should be completed by mid-September, and the town could have a new finance director in place by mid-October or early November.

c.bessette@theday.com