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Andover selectmen extend community-center assistant Haley Proto’s contract pending Board of Finance approval
Summary
The Board of Selectmen voted to continue Haley Proto’s contract through June 30, 2026, at current compensation levels, pending Board of Finance approval on Nov. 19. Town staff estimated the personnel changes would create a roughly $16,708 net overage in the community-center budget; the board discussed potential internal transfers to cover the cost.
The Andover Board of Selectmen on Nov. 10 approved a motion to continue community-center assistant Haley Proto’s contract through the end of fiscal year 2025–26 (June 30, 2026) at current compensation levels, pending approval from the Board of Finance at its Nov. 19 meeting. First Selectman Jeff Murray made the motion; Scott Person seconded. The board voted 4–0 (Carol Lee, Jeff Murray, Scott Person and Jeff Maguire voting Aye).
Residents had urged the board to retain Proto: Ed Weingart said he was "here to speak out in support of Haley Proto" and described how his children benefited from her after-school programs. Several other callers, including Megan Lally, Beata Gadowski and Claudia Mendoza, echoed that view.
Town staff provided budget details for the board to consider. Johansen said the annual municipal stipend is $6,100 and that, if wages for the center director (Tess Rouse), Proto and driver Linda Derrick were funded from the community-center lines, the net projected overage would be about $16,708. "It leaves us a net cost over budget of $16,708," Johansen said. Board members discussed using under-budget salary lines (for example in public works) or presenting a transfer request to the Board of Finance rather than drawing from contingency.
The motion passed on the condition that the Board of Finance review and approve a funding transfer at its next meeting; the selectmen recorded the vote and asked staff to present specific line-item options to the Board of Finance for consideration.
