Thursday, August 12, 1999 Older Editions

Youth Services elevated to separate-division status

By Neil Fater

Youth will be served, and in Andover, they're now being served by a division of their own. Encouraged by selectmen to make the change, Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski has separated Youth Services from the Department of Community Services, creating a new, independent town division.

The decision, which quietly took effect last month at the beginning of fiscal year 2000, also makes Youth Services Director Bill Fahey Andover's newest division head.

"It's his signature that gets things moving now," says Stapczynski, of Fahey. "He had the responsibility before, but now he has the authority, too, for success or failure (of youth programs)."

Selectmen began to push to have Fahey become a division head in March in part because they feared he might leave Andover for more lucrative offers he was receiving from other towns.

At the time, Fahey said he wanted to stay in Andover, but needed to know what the town planned to do with his position.

Until Fahey was named a division head, Fahey and Youth Services were under the control of Mary Donohue and the Department of Community Services.

Now, Fahey is on the same professional plane as both Donohue and Elder Services head Jeanne Madden.

The new title gives Fahey a raise in both pay and paperwork. Fahey could not be reached for comment.

"It means he - like any other division head - has to approve payroll, purchasing, accounts payable, (etc.)," says Stapczynski. "Essentially, it's his signature that approves that people get paid, and that the payroll is accurate, and the purchasing is accurate."

Fahey has gone from making around $42,000 to making "in the high 40s," says Stapczynski.

Although selectmen have not taken an official vote about the change, they appear aware and supportive of it.

"I'm under the impression that (Fahey) is now the official director of youth services," says Selectman Brian Major. "That was my understanding that would happen July 1."

"He's had a bunch of meetings with Buzz and I know he has a bunch of new administrative duties," says Selectman Lori Becker.

Because of the increase in youth programs over the past few years, Becker says she believes the town will hire an administrative assistant for Fahey so that he can continue to be "hands-on" with creating and running programs.

Fahey's position was originally funded for only one year as part of a state grant.

Later, it became a town position, but no job description was created, until this year.

During his time here, Fahey has helped start dozens of new programs for youth, been lauded by parents, and championed the effort to bring the award-winning skate park to town.

Realizing this, and admitting that they feared they could lose Fahey, selectmen frequently praised Fahey this year and in March encouraged Stapczynski to consider giving him a raise.

Now that this has happened, Major has suggested that the town might want to hire another employee who can oversee elder services, youth services and community services.

"I wouldn't mind seeing all those services in one department," says Major.