MEMORANDUM To:

Bedford Town Council

From: Rick Sawyer, Town Manager Date:

March 16, 2017

Re:

Appointment of the Director of Public Works

Pursuant to Article C4-6 of the Town Charter I am pleased to submit my appointment of Jeffrey Foote, PE our current Town Engineer and Assistant Director of Public Works and resident of Concord, New Hampshire as the Town of Bedford’s new Director of Public Works. I am convinced that Jeff is the best person for the job given his extreme knowledge of Bedford having been Town Engineer for 14 years and his impressive experience as an engineer with the State of NH and Manchester Water Works. Jeff joined the Town as Town Engineer in May of 2003 and now has 21 years of professional experience. Jeff’s mix of experience from the State level, from a utility, and from being Town Engineer and Assistant Director of Public Works has provided him with the foundation to be extremely successful on its own, but Jeff has taken the impressive step of obtaining his Masters of Public Administration from the University of New Hampshire over the past several years. Jeff has proved his readiness during the last 14 years with his management of the Town Roads Program and TIF District improvements, assistance with the Planning Board Technical Review Committee, and oversight of many special projects. Jeff has tremendous expertise in contract development and management, permitting, specification, easements, budgeting, and supervision. I am continuously impressed by Jeff’s responsibility to the job, always making sure the work that needs to be done is done no matter the number of extra hours on nights and weekends it takes. As many of you know Jeff often comes in on a Saturday or stays late during the week to meet with families regarding road projects and easements as that is the only time they are available. Jeff has also developed tremendous contacts with members of NHDOT (Concord & local District), NHDES, Manchester Water Works, Pennichuck, Eversource, Fairpoint, and numerous members of the construction industry that we have to deal with on a continuous basis. Jeff is also very highly respected by the senior members of the department and the other Department Heads who I spoke with prior to making this appointment who have indicated their full support of the promotion of Jeff. As a sampling of the support for Jeff and rather than speaking for them attached please find three letters of support/recommendation from: 

Jim Stanford, Director of Public Works

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Scott Wiggin, Fire Chief

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Rebecca Hebert, Planning Director

As stated above Jeff holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from UNH as well as a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering from New England College and an Associates of Applied Science from

UNH. Jeff currently serves on the State of New Hampshire Good Roads Association Board of Directors and has been a professional engineer since 2002 (#10653). Lastly I am always impressed by Jeff’s professionalism, get the job done with the best cost/benefit attitude, communication style, respect for the chain of command, and commitment to safe and sound engineering principals for the benefit of all within the Town of Bedford. Jeff and I will can be available to answer any questions you may have during a non-public session or publicly on March 20, 2017. RECOMMENDATION According to the Town Charter, Article C4-6, the Town Council must confirm the appointment of Department Heads made by the Town Manager. Therefore, I am asking that the Town Council make the following motion: I Move to confirm the appointment of Jeffrey Foote, PE as the Director of Public Works for the Town of Bedford effective March 21, 2017.

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ATTACHED:

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Jeffrey Foote, PE – Cover Letter & Résumé Letters of Support

MEMORANDUM, Town of Bedford, NH

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