Thursday, September 16, 1999 Older Editions

Harding headed west

By Neil Fater

Stung by its huge problems with the Andover High construction project, the town decided in 1997 to hire someone to oversee impending major construction projects -- a proposed safety center, senior center and two Cross Street schools -- from beginning to end. In came construction project manager David Harding.

Now, nearly two years later, Harding will leave town before a shovel ever hits the ground on any of these important projects.

Harding -- family concerns.

Harding submitted his resignation last week, and plans to join his wife and children on the West Coast. Although Harding's wife took a new job out West during August, he says he had originally planned to complete the Andover projects before joining his family.

"Despite our carefully laid plans that I would stay here and continue this work, our kids sort of threw it up in the air. They were having a tough time," he says.

Praising the Andover officials he's worked with, Harding says he regrets leaving, and emphasizes that his family is the only reason he would ever consider resigning.

"I'm very sorry to have to leave, and would never leave if it wasn't for my kids. I want very much to see these projects through to completion," he says.

Harding began working for Andover Nov. 17, 1997 and will leave Oct. 8.

He earned $65,409 last year, slightly more than some long-time town officials such as Health Director Everett Penney and building inspector Kaija Gilmore. During nearly two years with the town, Harding spent almost as much time dealing with the politics of getting the three construction projects approved as he did with the technical aspects of the jobs.

Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski and Selectman Brian Major praise Harding for his attitude and ability to draw people together.

"He was a better fit than anyone ever thought possible. Dave's demeanor and his ability to work with different groups of people was phenomenal," says Major. "From that point of view, it's sad to see him go.

"As far as the projects go, it's definitely disheartening to not have Dave continue," he adds. "Whoever we bring in is going to have a lot of catch-up to do."

However, Harding and Stapczynski both say Andover has a number of employees and volunteers who are knowledgeable about each of the projects.

"As involved as he was with the senior center, I still had Jeanne Madden working closely with him, as well as the senior building committee," says Stapczynski. "In all three events, it's been pretty much a team effort."

There are two construction project managers on the senior center building committee, and its chairman, Spencer Johnson, is an architect, says Harding.

With the safety center, Harding says, "Both chiefs are actively involved and that's always a plus, with the director of facilities as well. They make a good team."

The schools projects have strong building committee members, school officials and an architect with knowledge of the projects, he says.

Harding says that these people should help any project manager pick up the ball for the town.

"From this point forward, (the three projects) more closely fall into a typical project manager's (task)," says Harding.

Stapczynski says that in speaking with other community leaders he's heard that "the market is tight," but that Andover should be able to hire an experienced project manager to take Harding's place at a cost of $60,000 to $70,000 per year.

"No doubt (Harding's resignation) will have an effect, but it's not going to change my strategy," says Stapczynski.

Selectman Lori Becker suggests that Andover should perhaps consider changing one part of its strategy when replacing Harding, by hiring a full-time employee for three to five years, rather than another contractor such as Harding. However, Harding says he feels there was very little difference between his position and that of a full-time employee.

"Harding was treated as a full-time employee," Becker agrees, but adds that "he was an independent contractor. The way he was hired at the time might not have been a good idea."

She says the town has enough planned to justify the hiring of a full-time employee.

"We're going to build a safety center. We're going to build a senior center, and probably a youth center, and we have two new schools coming," she says.