By Chris Paul
During the Monday night July 11 meeting of the Londonderry Town Council, two more departures from town staff were announced.
Police Chief, William Hart, will officially retire from the force on Aug. 5 and Assistant Town Manager/Director of Human Resources, Lisa Drabik, resigned last week to move on to a position with the City of Manchester as their Human Resource Director.
Hart has been with the town for 30-years. He started in Londonderry on July 1, 1992, serving as the town prosecutor, then serving as the Assistant Chief, under Chief Joe Ryan before moving into the role of Chief when Ryan retired.
At the meeting, he made a brief statement saying, “I’ve devoted my life to this town and proud to have done so.” He added that he is also proud to have served with the town councilors.
On the departure of Drabik, who resigned last week and was present at the meeting, council chairman, John Farrell, wished her well, thanked her for her service to the town, and said the town would be working out what the transition would be.
Drabik was hired by the former Town Manager, Kevin Smith, in January of 2017 as his assistant. Her position was later expanded encompass the role of Director of Human Resources.
When asked for comment after the meeting on how the town plans on filling these two positions, Town Manager, Mike Malagut said, “Lisa Drabik served as both the Human Resources Director and Assistant Town Manager. We are evaluating a number of different options to fulfill these two important functions going forward. Following Chief Hart’s retirement, Deputy Chief Kim Bernard will fulfill the duties of chief. Decisions concerning Chief Hart and Lisa Drabik’s successors will be made by the Town Council and Town Manager in close consultation and after careful deliberation. While we want to move quickly, the process will not be rushed”.
He added, “These departures are a reminder that we are experiencing a period of transition as a Town. While transitions always bring anxiety and growing pains, they also offer the opportunity for growth. The public can be assured we will navigate these transitions in a professional manner and in the best interests of the Town.
Also announced was the retirement of longtime First Responder, Suzanne Roy. Roy is leaving the position of the Fire Department’s Executive Assistant after 38-years of service to the town. See her career in Londonderry with the police department.
After the recent departure of Town Planner, Colleen Mailloux, the town has hired Kellie Walsh to fill that postion.
Walsh worked as a Town Planner for the town of Epping and is a graduate of Londonderry High School.
She is scheduled to start on July 25.
Ilona Arndt is the town’s new Senior Affairs Director after the recent retirement of Cathy Blash.