Town, its manager considering another 5 years

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October 29, 2009

By Bethany Bray

Andover will know who will be running the town for the next five years by March 2010.

This winter selectmen will decide whether to reappoint Buzz Stapczynski, who has been town manager since 1990, or look for someone new. The board will outline a timeline for the process at its Nov. 2 meeting.

Although early in the process, Selectmen Brian Major, Ted Teichert and Mary Lyman had praise this week for the longtime town manager's track record in Andover (see related online story).

Selectmen must let Stapczynski know if he's reappointed by March 4. Selectman chairman Alex Vispoli said the board hopes to have a decision by early February.

"More so than any other year, since I've been on the board, it's going to be an in-depth, thorough process that will determine whether Buzz is the right person to take us forward in these difficult times," said Selectman Jerry Stabile Jr.

The last time Stapczynski was reappointed, selectmen asked him to recap his last five years, outlining accomplishments and goals for the next five years. It was during his presentation at a public meeting that Stapczynski said he hoped to be reappointed for another five years.

This week, Stapczynski said it was too early to say what his wishes are this time around, but that he is "looking forward to working with the board during the reappointment process," and making a similar presentation this winter as he did in 2005.

"A hallmark of my administration has been continuing improvement," said Stapczynski. "It's all a learning process. I'm learning every day."

Through the reappointment process, selectmen hope to garner public input through e-mail and public meetings.

"It's a once-in-a-five-year event, and we want to make sure we get as much input as possible, and offer folks the opportunity to comment ... It was a healthy process last time, to get (public) input," said Vispoli.

"I encourage residents, if they have an opinion, to send an e-mail or come to meetings to voice concern or praises," said Selectman Ted Teichert. "If we don't hear any feedback, you just don't know."

For the 2008 calendar year, Stapczynski made $128,780 in salary. Travel allowances and other pay bumped his total earnings to $130,908 for 2008.

Stapczynski, 61, and his wife, Sandy, have two sons who attended Andover public schools and are now in college. The town charter requires Andover's town manager to live in town.

Prior to coming to Andover in June 1990, Stapczynski served in the roles of town manager and assistant town manager in Wilmington.

The best part of his 19 years in Andover, said Stapczynski, has been "the people, the exciting projects and the challenges. Andover's a high demand community, people expect quality public services and the challenge for me and my administration has been to step up to the challenges the residents have. It keeps all of us on our toes."