Thursday, January 11, 2007 Older Editions

$4,000 bonus for town manager

By Brian Messenger

Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski will receive a 2.84 percent raise in pay for fiscal year 2007 and was unanimously granted a $4,000 bonus by selectmen Monday.

Including the bonus, Stapczynski will be paid $130,500 this fiscal year.

"It's equivalent to what we gave the unions," said Selectmen Brian Major of the 2.84 percent bump in salary.

"I describe his performance as being outstanding. He represents the town extremely professionally," said Major. "He does a very good job working with the department heads to keep things running smoothly on a day-to-day basis."

Added selectman Mary Lyman, "He is a very effective town manager."

The bonus is based on the selectmen's evaluation of the town manager in relation to tasks outlined for the last fiscal year, which ranged from the completion of ongoing projects to the planning of upcoming ones, said selectmen.

Stapczynski, currently in his 17th year as Andover's town manager, is in year two of a five-year contract, his fourth such contract with the town.

"I think Buzz goes long and far to do well for the town of Andover," said Lyman. "He certainly cares about the town and does his best to deliver for the town."

Lyman said Stapczynski deserved the bonus for his effort on the job.

"It's beyond the normal job description, trying to get things done," she said.

Major pointed to the town response to the spring flooding as an example of how Stapczynski effectively leads the Andover departments.