Springfield manager to retire this year

Springfield Town Manager Robert “Bob” Forguites announced late Monday night that he will step down later this year after holding the position since 1998.
http://eagletimes.villagesoup.com/p/springfield-manager-to-retire-this-year/1174371

Springfield manager to retire this year By Chris Garofolo | Apr 29, 2014 Photo by: Chris Garofolo Springfield Town Manager Robert "Bob" Forguites is retiring after 16 years. SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Town Manager Robert “Bob” Forguites announced late Monday night that he will step down later this year after holding the position since 1998. Forguites, 75, waited until the end of Monday’s Springfield Selectboard meeting to report he intends to “head down the road to retirement” and work full-time until the end of September and schedule a “graceful exit” by the end of December. “In about two months I will have served the town of Springfield as town manager for 16 years. I’m sure some people will say that is 16 years too many,” he said. “I know that together we have accomplished many things during these years. I know that there still are many things to accomplish.” His prepared statement, made to end any speculation of his pending retirement, was laced with literary references to Lewis Carroll’s narrative poem “Through the Looking Glass.” Members of the town office staff and the Selectboard became teary-eyed as he read his remarks out loud. Selectboard Vice-Chairwoman Stephanie Thompson called Forguites a great mentor. Chairman Kristi Morris said Forguites’ comments were heartfelt and he appreciated all the hard work he has done over the years. “In spite of all the comments, you’ve been fair, you’ve been great for this town and financially diligent ... and I know I’ve been chair of this board for four years now and I certainly appreciate the efforts, wish you the best and you’re not going away easily,” Morris said. Thomas Kennedy, executive director of the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, said he has never worked with a town manager with the integrity of Forguites. “And we’ve worked very, very closely over the years and I’d have to say now he’s no longer Bob Forguites, he’s my friend and I think the town of Springfield owns him a great deal of gratitude because you’re never going to get another manager like Bob,” Kennedy said. Selectman Peter MacGillivray mentioned that Forguites has never lost a budget during his tenure. Forguites considers that one of his proudest achievements. “I know we got every budget passed and I think we got every bond issue passed. But it’s not just me; it’s the board, it’s the people. The budget doesn’t get passed unless the people are willing to do it,” he told reporters after the meeting concluded. A Springfield resident since 1978, Forguites worked in the local banking industry before stepping into the town government. He said Springfield has been good to him and his wife, and provided a fine education to his son. After taking an interim manager’s role in May 1998, he was promoted to full-time a few months later. He served as comptroller prior to the management position and has more than 20 years of service to Springfield. Forguites said this was not a sudden decision and he has been considering it for some time. “People have told me ‘you’ll know when it is time,’ and I know it is now time to start the process,” he said. “Usually when someone is talking about retirement they indicate that they want to spend more time with their grandchildren,” Forguites continued. “I don’t have any grandchildren but I do have a house that has been sorely neglected — Barbara and I had planned to do but didn’t get done — so that will be my retirement project.”