So, who remembers former Bedford Town Manager Keith Hickey? While he had his friends while in town from what I believe was the time period between 1996 and 2000, there were also many who weren't sad to see him leave.
According to stories that appeared in both the Eagle-Tribune and the Lowell Sun, the infamous Hickey may now be on his way to Dracut, Ma, which apparently came as a big surprise to his bosses in Salem, NH where he has been Town Manager since 2011. Hickey's name was disclosed this week by Dracut officials as one of three finalists for the job of their Town Manager.
Hickey arrived in Salem after serving as Town Manager in Merrimack, NH for 5 years, a job he started after leaving Bedford. Prior to Bedford, he worked in administration in Concord, and perhaps another NH town as well.
Apparently the wandering Hickey wasn't feeling too happy in Salem, since shortly after becoming employed there in 2011, he was making efforts to leave that town.
Prior to the funeral even being held for Bedford's Town Manager Russ Marcoux in the fall of 2011, Hickey was making phone calls to former Bedford supporters expressing his desire to make a triumphant return to town. That interest was made clear during the first unsuccessful attempt by the Town Council to find a successor to Russ Marcoux. But that was never publicly announced, so Salem didn't know that he wanted to bolt from their reservation. But Hickey's interest in Bedford waned when he learned that the Council was resolute in their requirement that our Town Manager is required to live in town within a short period of time after accepting the job. Hickey wanted to work here, but he didn't want to live here. Aw shucks.
I have no idea as to whether Dracut expects their new Town Manager to live in their town.
But if he doesn't get the Dracut job, at least Salem officials now know that the fickle Hickey is looking for a new fiefdom. Should he not find one, it should be interesting to watch what happens when it's time to negotiate a new contract in Salem, especially since he has had frequent run-ins with at least one of his bosses there.
Well, we won't need to worry that he'll be back in Bedford, at least not in the foreseeable future. The bolting town manager will need to keep his eyes open for somewhere else where he might consider becoming a resident. As Southerners would say, "Bless his heart".
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