Thursday, September 16, 1999 Older Editions

McQuade to retire

By Neil Fater

The lauded Robert E. McQuade Water Treatment Plant will serve Andover long into the next century. Robert E. McQuade himself will not.

The long-time public works director, credited with overseeing the design and construction of the town's award-winning water treatment plant, has announced his intent to retire Oct. 8.

McQuade -- end of an era.

In a terse memo to the town manager dated Sept. 7, McQuade says, "As you are aware, I notified you in early January 1998 on my proposed retirement during 1998. Here it is some 21 months later, and I would like Oct. 8, 1999 to be my last day of employment."

Asked if there was a specific incident that led him to suddenly issue a written retirement notice, McQuade answered simply, "Yeah, there was, but I'd rather not talk about it."

Stapczynski also declined to comment, choosing to focus on McQuade's accomplishments during his more than 30 years in Andover.

"The only thing I want to say is he's had a great career and a lot to be proud of," he says.

But it seems McQuade's letter came after a meeting between McQuade and Stapczynski before Labor Day weekend.

"There's been a lot of tension between them for a long time. I'm not surprised that they had it out because it was coming. But it's too bad," says Selectman Lori Becker.

Back in January 1998, McQuade had agreed to stay as the DPW director until the town found someone to replace him. Stapczynski took the unusual step of giving McQuade a considerable role in selecting his own replacement.

The town advertised for a new public works director and received resumes from a number of applicants in the fall of 1998.

"We had a number of candidates, but none of them met the qualifications we had set," says Stapczynski. So the town sent out a new advertisement.

"Bob didn't want to go through last winter. But because both he and Buzz weren't comfortable with the group of candidates, he decided to stay on," says Selectman Brian Major.

A new round of applicants came in this spring, and Stapczynski says he has narrowed the list down to three semi-finalists he says would be appropriate for the job.

"That's where we disagree, I say there isn't (a suitable replacement within that group)," says McQuade.

Fine career

Regardless of who is on the list, there are some who say it's impossible to replace McQuade with an equal because of his experience.

Many public officials have stories about sitting in meetings with McQuade, where he would tell them exactly what kind of water or sewer pipe was beneath a certain road, while others scurried to find the blueprints with the information. Invariably, McQuade's answer was right.

"You can't replace Bob McQuade," says Major. "He's got that built-in knowledge from his on-the-job experience.

For a man who works in a building with his name on it, McQuade also remains modest with the press. Asked about his proudest accomplishments McQuade typically avoids the question.

However, others have more to say.

Responding to McQuade's retirement letter, Stapczynski offered a letter praising the public works director for his leadership and achievements.

"It is with mixed emotions that I accept your resignation effective Oct. 8, 1999," the letter begins.

"I was hard pressed to list all of his achievements. It could go on for pages," says Stapczynski.

"The town has been blessed with a dedicated public servant. McQuade has been a credit to the town and a credit to himself," says Town Moderator Jim Doherty, 84. "I wish him well on his retirement, but I think he's much too young to retire."

McQuade turned 71 this year.