Manager's failure shows need for new government

Editor, Townsman:

On Jan. 16 I attended the Andover selectmen's workshop regarding the contract renewal of our town manager. As one of the three residents, I requested to give public comment and was initially told that this would be within the acceptable format.

As I began to question and voice my concerns I was quickly muzzled by the board, though this was not done to the participant immediately previous to me, who presented support of our manager.

When I asked why the town manager was given a bonus if our bond rating improved but was not held responsible when it dropped, a selectman explained there were other factors involved. It is only logical that if our manager can take credit for the improvement he must accept responsibility for its decline - or perhaps it was just the economy all along and the bonuses were too freely given?

I then in detail accused our manager of being directly responsible for the contamination of Fish Brook by the Mass Highway salt pile at Interstate 93 and Route 495. Before there was contamination, I had contacted him and requested the salt pile be covered, rather than exposed to the rain and snow. So bad was the leaching of salt, the ground had turned white and the soil had been denuded of all vegetation. I presented aerial photographs of this calamity.

The manager, who was in attendance, apparently could not recall my requests and demands for his interaction. Instead he explained how our school children had worked hard on this issue. His defense is that our children are working on this? He never denied I had complained to him directly ahead of this disaster-to-be, because it's true. The facts are that I had contacted the manager, the Andover Highway Department superintendent, the Andover Conservation Commission, and others. I blew the whistle long and loud.

I would note that the salt pile is now properly covered and should not be moved as is the current "feel good" plan explained by our manager. That plan would bring the salt pile off the highway and within our town, have state trucks on our town roads to load salt, and add to our traffic problems.

Since my public accusation voiced at a proper forum and directly to our selectmen, I have received no phone calls to verify my accusation. There has been no indication that our selectmen are investigating my claims. Why? If true, wouldn't this be a proof of a horrible failure to act responsibly by our manager? Wouldn't this be proof of a horrendous event that affects all of us that was preventable by the person they are considering for a new contact?

There is no investigation because it is true and the selectmen choose not to seek out the tremendous talent now available in a recession. It's true and our selectmen have failed us too.

It is clear to me that our selectmen are not acting in the best interest of the residents and taxpayers of Andover. The failure of our manager to investigate and act upon my repeated warnings directly lead to the contamination problem and the associated costs we have paid with our tax dollars. That this act of incompetence is swept aside speaks of the failure of our present form of government.

There is no doubt in my mind these appalling performances will continue until Andover revises its form of town government. A charter review is the best answer. It's time for Andover to elect a single responsible person that must take the praise or blame alone.

Larry Bruce

254 Chandler Road