×

Town Councilor Mike Izbicki steps down

Mike Izbicki made the decision to step down from his four-year tenure as a Bedford Town Councilor due to a recent job change requiring him to travel more, sometimes with very little notice.

His resignation is effective immediately.

With more than 33 years in the rail business, Izbicki left his private consulting practice and took a position with the Louis Berger Group Inc., as director of rail systems in Manchester. His new position demands that he plans, designs and engineers high-speed systems all over the world.

Izbicki considered requesting a leave of absence from the Town Council, but felt the town deserved a full-time councilor. Izbicki served as vice chairman from 2007-08 and became chairman in 2008 until he stepped down in early March.

“I had no intentions to leave the council until my personal work became crazy,” Izbicki said. “With my current travel schedule, the earliest meeting I could make was June. It was not fair to my family, the council or the people who elected me. I put 150 percent into everything I do and it was just unmanageable.”

Izbicki admits leaving mid-year will be strenuous on the council.

“This will be a tough year with so many things happening in the state,” he said.

“The retirement systems, cutting revenue on budgets, receiving less revenue from the state, it will be a challenge for the next councilor.”

On March 14, Izbicki stepped down as council chairman and nominated Bill Dermody to take his place.

“I am very disappointed with Mike stepping down from the council, but we have to understand that his day job takes priority and that seems to have increasing pressures on his time,” Dermody said. “It makes sense that his family and his day job takes that priority.”

Dermody said the council will continue to press forward.

“I hate to see what he had to do, but I have to agree with his decision, it was best for him and in the long run it will be best for the council. We couldn’t withstand long periods of absence from any member of the council.”

In his tenure on the council, Izbicki has seen the town through several big changes:

? The formation of a public/private partnership for the construction of the Bedford Village Common Park without the use of taxpayer dollars.

? The formation of a public/private partnership with the Bedford Historical Society for the restoration of the Stevens-Buswell School into a Community Center, again without the use of taxpayers dollars.

? The establishment of a Tax Incremental Finance District (TIF) along South River Road from the Manchester/Bedford town line to Route 101, which voters overwhelmingly approved in March.

“I want to thank the residents of Bedford, all those who volunteer to serve on boards and committees, the voters who elected me to office, and all the citizens that put their trust in the Town Council and me, from the bottom of my heart, Izbicki said.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your Town Councilor over these past four years. Most of all I would like to thank my wife Sue, of over 27 years and my two boys, Brandon and Jason, for all their support and patience over the past four years while serving on the Town Council.”