37 interested in job

A search team for the next town clerk will meet tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 5, to select candidates for interviews.

The application deadline was Jan. 22, and there are 37 applicants. The search team is now reading and assessing candidates.

Interviews will be conducted between Feb. 8 and 12. The best three to five candidates will then be sent to Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski for an interview. The range of salary for this position is high $60,000s to mid $80,000s, commensurate with experience. The outgoing town clerk made $100,152 in 2008.

Source: Candace Hall, Human Resources Director

For the first time in two decades, Andover's town election will be overseen by a new maestro.

Fresh off a rare special state election for U.S. Senator, Pasho Street resident and town clerk Randall "Randy" Hanson is preparing for her last day on Friday, Feb. 26.

Hanson was pleased to have her last election be an election with such a high turnout, as 64 percent of Andover residents voted, including 1,100 who did so by absentee ballot. But she was even more pleased with her behind-the-scenes crew who she says step up to the plate - or polls in this case - at every election.

"I will miss the people, I know that," said Hanson, who is retiring.

After 20 years on the job, she got a bit teary-eyed saying goodbye to poll workers at the Jan. 19 state election.

"I'm an emotional person and wanted to say goodbye and thanks to them," she said.

"Randy has always given 120 percent to ensure that our elections and Town Meetings flow smoothly, the town clerk's office is efficient and the selectmen are well prepared for public hearings. Her continuous attention to detail has made the rest of us look pretty good," said Selectmen Brian Major, whose fellow board members each offered their own praise (see box).

But Hanson said she'll turn 64 on March 11 and believes its time for her to retire. A mother of two and grandmother of three she said she has no firm retirement plans because of the unusually busy election season - there was a state primary on Dec. 8, 2009, before the Jan. 19 election of Scott Brown. Her husband, Dick, won't be retiring for at least another year so she'll have some time to focus on future plans while seeing more of her young grandchildren who live out of state.

It's been business as usual for the no-nonsense Hanson who wants to make sure everything is in order for the next town clerk who will be greeted with a town election in March and Town Meeting beginning in late April.

In addition to election and Town Meeting preparation, the town clerk's office handles all town licenses: from marriage to dog to liquor. Passports and voter registration are also processed in the office. Census data is accumulated and questions about getting private articles on a Town Meeting warrant are answered there.

"I really enjoyed helping people get answers for all sorts of questions," said Hanson, herself a resident, "and getting to know new businesses and what businesses were coming to town was interesting for me."

Well-known among the state's town clerks as she served on legislative committees, she's always promoted "continuous improvement," in her office, she said. She was wanted visits to the office to be "as efficient as possible."

"I am not a dictating manager," said Hanson who manages a staff of three. "I like to educate my staff and bring them along to learn about new things."

Comments on clerk

Selectmen have worked closely with Randy Hanson over the years and their comments about her work ethic were glowingly unified. These selectman responded in an e-mail about Hanson. Here's what each wrote:

Alex Vispoli

"Randy is recognized throughout the Merrimack Valley and the state as a leader in her field. She has been a spokesperson for town clerks statewide in pushing for process improvement and efficiencies. She has always provided sound advice to the Board of Selectmen, and has worked to help residents with licensing requests. Randy consistently looks for ways to deliver services from her office and driving down costs. We will miss Randy's presence, professionalism, intelligence and guidance. Andover has been well served with Randy as our town clerk."

Mary Lyman

"Randy has worked tirelessly to have her office represent the best practices of a Town Clerk. She works cooperatively with North Andover to offer campaign orientations, works with the League of Women Voters to ensure that voting day runs as smoothly as possible, she comes to every Board of Selectmen's meeting totally prepared for all licensing and works at the state level to represent the Town of Andover. I will miss her both professionally and personally. I know Randy is proud as she should be, to have selected a great team who will carry on her work."

Jerry Stabile

"Randy is one of those people who makes the trains run on time, all of the time. Without a doubt one of the best administrators I have worked with. She will be very hard to replace and I will miss her."

Brian Major

"Randy has always given 120 percent to ensure that our elections and Town Meetings flow smoothly, the Town Clerk's office is efficient and the selectmen are well prepared for public hearings. Her continuous attention to detail has made the rest of us look pretty good. I will definitely miss her professionalism and more importantly her friendship."