Vernon assistant administrator leaving for Rhode Island job

By Suzanne Carlson
Journal Inquirer
Published: Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:37 PM EDT

VERNON — Assistant Town Administrator Peter Graczykowski has been hired as city manager of East Providence, R.I., but he has yet to announce his departure from his current position.

“I can confirm that we’ve hired him, we’re about to sign an agreement,” East Providence Mayor Bruce Rogers said today.

Rogers said he had just signed his copy of the hiring agreement and would be transmitting a copy to Graczykowski by email for electronic signature, after which the City Council will vote to approve the agreement at its Oct. 4 meeting.

Mayor Jason L. McCoy, who recommended Graczykowski for the post, said today that he has not yet received a letter of resignation.

“Peter has been a great asset to the town residents and the taxpayers in Vernon,” McCoy said in an email.

When the Town Council approved Graczykowski’s hire on May 19, 2009, McCoy said at the time, “I hope he stays longer than a few years given that he has the credentials.”

But two years and four months later, Graczykowski — who received a 3.45 percent pay increase in the 2011-12 budget and now earns $85,501 — is leaving for an annual salary of $115,000 to $130,000.

Rogers said Graczykowski’s pay will fall within that range, but he declined to provide further details until after the agreement had been signed and approved.

Graczykowksi, a lawyer who was director of administrative services for Springfield’s Public Works Department and served as a project manager in that city’s Finance Department before coming to Vernon, originally applied for the job of Vernon town administrator now held by John D. Ward.

Later that year, he applied for and got his current job as assistant town administrator and human resource director, and his duties include personnel matters, labor negotiations, and assisting Ward.

Rogers said today that his administration has been speaking with Graczykowski for “a number of days and weeks,” and has conducted three interviews, one publicly.