Sawyer Named Bedford Town Manager

BEDFORD, NH - The town of Bedford has a new town manager but he is also a familiar face.

Rick Sawyer, who has been serving as the acting-town manager and planning director, was appointed to the position on April 13, 2016, by the Bedford Town Council, with a five-year contract, according to a press statement.

Sawyer has been the acting-town manager for the town since last year and has been the planning director and zoning administrator since 2007. Prior to working in Bedford, Sawyer was the deputy planning manager for the city of Nashua, New Hampshire for 10 years.

Town Council Chairwoman Kelleigh Murphy said the board was "thrilled" to have Sawyer in the position.

“Rick has been a dedicated, insightful and innovative addition to the town since 2007 when he began as Planning Director," she said. "His Leadership style is one that is universally respected amongst council members, department heads, employees and the public, and we are honored to have him at the helm.”

Murphy emphasized that one of the main reasons behind pushing to abolish the residency requirement was so that the town could attract candidates who would remain in Bedford for some time, which is why the board agreed to a five-year contract for Sawyer.

“A 5-year term is everyone’s way of showing that they are in this for the long haul, and that we are all looking not only to tomorrow, but to the future of this town,” she said.

Sawyer said he was "deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the council, employees and citizens of Bedford" and added that he appreciated all the support he has received from department heads, the planning staff, and his family.

"I would not be in this position today without it,” Sawyer said. “I have a tremendous amount of pride in the relationships that I have formed with residents, the business community, coworkers, and elected officials over the last 9 years as planning director and I look forward to growing those connections as town manager. We have some interesting challenges ahead and I can’t wait to get to work with the management team on ensuring that Bedford continues to be the best place to live, raise a family, and grow a business in the state.”

Sawyer is a graduate of Rutgers University where he obtained a Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture and studied in the Masters of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Massachusetts and is a 2014 graduate of the Leadership New Hampshire program. A New Hampshire native - he was raised in Stratham and graduated from Exeter High School - Sawyer lives in Exeter with his wife, Laura and two children.