Knapik passed over for Walpole town administrator position

Date: 2/6/2015

WESTFIELD – Mayor Daniel Knapik was not chosen for the position of town administrator in Walpole. The interim town administrator, Jim Johnson, will continue on in the role.

The Board of Selectmen interviewed the three finalists, including Knapik, on Feb. 4 and voted unanimously to keep Johnson on.

Knapik announced in January that he would not be seeking re-election in November.

Knapik said that though Walpole is on the eastern part of the state, his experience could help their community.

“Walpole is a lot like Westfield,” Knapik said. “It’s a great opportunity and it has significant challenges ahead of it. It needs some guidance with problems like we faced in Westfield.”

The previous town administrator, Michael Boynton, submitted his letter of resignation in June 2014 when he was named the new town administrator of Medway. His last day in office was July 17, according to town administrator executive assistant Cindy Berube.

Before Boynton left his post, he was under contract, earning an annual salary of $143,000, according to Berube.

Knapik’s current post as mayor earns him $100,00 a year.

The final decision will be made some time after the interviews are completed, but no deadline has been set. No official start date has been named for the next town administrator to take office, although it is expected to be before November, thus before Westfield’s mayoral election.

Knapik was first elected mayor in 2009 and has been at the post since. So far, Mike Roeder, who lost to Knapik by 333 votes in 2013, and City Council President Brian Sullivan have announced intentions to run for mayor in November.