Five months into a three-year term, Selectman Jerry Stabile Jr. has announced he will resign from the board, effective Aug. 31.
Citing the demands of his career, Stabile said he's contemplated resigning "for some time."
"It's not been an easy decision to make," Stabile said Aug. 9.
Stabile, the chief operating officer of SW Development Company, was re-elected to a second term in March and assumed the chairman position after Town Meeting in April.
He informed Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski and the other selectmen of his resignation in an Aug. 9 e-mail and announced it publicly at the end of the selectmen's meeting that evening.
"Over the past few months my professional workload has increased significantly," said Stabile. "Serving the residents of this town, working with other board and committee members, employees and all the people that I have come in contact with has been a remarkable experience."
Stabile's announcement came just minutes after he had a police officer escort Cyr Circle resident and town watchdog Mary Carbone out of the meeting.
Stabile and Carbone have butted heads since Stabile became chairman, but he said that had nothing to do with his decision to resign.
"That part of doing this job has nothing to do with what I'm about to say," Stabile said as Carbone left the room.
Stabile stepped down as chairman Monday night and the board elected Selectman Alex Vispoli as its new chairman. Selectman Brian Major took Stabile's place as Town Yard Task Force liaison in June. A more than $20 million town yard project is expected to be brought to residents at a Special Town Meeting later this year.
Stabile will sit with the board for one more meeting on Aug. 23 before his resignation takes effect.
Board members and Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski said Stabile's "fingerprints" will be on several large projects, including the town yard, that will come to fruition in the coming years and months.
"I've appreciated the leadership you've demonstrated, your ability to move things ahead," Stapczynski said to Stable.
A new selectman will be chosen at town elections in March to finish the two years remaining in Stabile's term. By town charter, selectmen must be elected at town elections, so the opening could not go on the state ballot in November, said Vispoli.
Until March, selectmen can operate with a four-person board or appoint a new member, said Vispoli. The process will be discussed at the Aug. 23 meeting.
A similar situation occurred when Selectman Mary French died in 2001. Mary Lyman was appointed to fill out the remaining year of French's term, and was elected to the seat in 2002.
