Bennington Selectman Steve Osienski has announced his resignation, a decision that went into effect Feb. 21.
“It is with deep regret that I announce my resignation from the Bennington, NH Board of Selectmen,” said Osienski in a letter he hand delivered to his fellow board members.
In the letter, Osienski said he has been given increasing responsibilities at his full-time job, making it difficult to devote the time and energy required for the town position. Osienski is a verification manager at BAE Systems – an international defense, aerospace and security company – according to his LinkedIn profile.
Osienski has been a member of the board since 2009. He did not run for re-election last year when his term had expired, but agreed to another three-year term after receiving the most write-in votes.
“To run for the position would have been dishonest to the citizens of Bennington who had trusted me in past elections to fulfill the term of the office,” Osienski said in an email sent in March 2016.
He received 78 votes compared to 55 that were cast for others.
Despite concerns about completing another three-year term, Osienski filled the seat when he won the write-in campaign. His term was set to expire in 2019.
“The resignation did not come as a surprise since Osienski had shared with the board for many months that his personal schedule was not forgiving,” Town Administrator Denise French said in an email. “The resignation was received with regret.”
During a regular meeting Tuesday night, Chair James Cleary and Selectman Jeff Rose tabled appointing a replacement to fill Osienski’s vacancy until March 21, when the board will pick up the matter once again. The appointee would fill Osienski’s remaining two-year term.
By that time, residents will have cast their vote in the contested race for incumbent Jeffrey Rose’s seat. Rose faces Mark Mackesy for the position, who serves on the town’s Trustees of Trust Funds board.
“Please know that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a selectman,” Osienski said in the letter. “It has been an honor to work with some of the finest individuals in our community. I have grown personally and professionally from my time as selectman and will cherish the good and the hard time of the experience.”
Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 234 or akessler@ledgertranscript.com.