SOUTHAMPTON — Former Springfield mayor Robert T. Markel has signed a contract to serve as interim town administrator.
Heather Budrewicz, the town’s administrator since March 2014, announced her resignation Sept. 27 after accepting a position as town administrator for Ashburnham, which she starts Nov. 28.
Markel was interviewed at a Select Board meeting Oct. 20 and the contract was negotiated and approved by the board on Tuesday. He will be paid about $50 an hour for up to 19 hours a week, according to Budrewicz.
Markel, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, was a political science professor at American International College in Springfield for over 20 years and served seven terms on the Springfield City Council. He was elected mayor in 1992 and served until 1996. In 2001, he was hired as town administrator for Norfolk, and in 2005, he was appointed as town manager of Ipswich.
Although he retired in 2012, Markel said he isn’t “fully” retired and started working stints as interim town administrator throughout the state.
“I enjoy the work,” Markel said during the interview. “As long as it’s enjoyable and I can do it effectively, I’d like to continue.”
He served four months in Northfield. From February 2014 to June 2016, he served in Templeton. Markel said the town was unable to hire due to financial problems and he said he agreed to stay for an extended period.
After he left Templeton, Markel served in Stoneham from June to October this year.
To prepare for the Southampton position, Markel will shadow Budrewicz next week. Prior to hiring Budrewicz, the town went over two years without a permanent town administrator. Regina Shea-Sullivan served as interim while she continued her duties as assistant administrator. Markel’s contract is open-ended and the Select Board has asked Markel to assist in the search for a permanent town administrator.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.