Consultant Turns Andover Contract Into Full-Time Job

ANDOVER, MA -- Selectmen approved posting for and hiring a Director of Business, Arts, and Cultural Development by a 4-1 vote Monday. The newly-created position would have a salary of about $92,000 per year and would promote the downtown business district while simultaneously work to bring more art and cultural events to town. The salary for the position would be covered by eliminating a currently vacant position in Andover's accounting department.

Selectman Alex Vispoli cast the lone opposing vote. Vispoli said he was concerned that it would be difficult to measure whether or not the person who fills the position is successful. Town Manager Andrew Flanagan has proposed offering the position to Ann Ormond, the former president of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce. Last year the town gave Ormond a $10,000 business development consulting contract.

At a meeting last month, Flanagan said business owners had asked for Ormond after her contract expired. "What they told us they missed was having the direct line of communication from my office and the municipal organization," he said.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).