Selectman Lanen Resigning

In yet another local govenment shake-up in North Andover, Selectman Dan Lanen has resigned from the Board of Selectmen.

Lanen, 44, told colleagues at Town Hall Tuesday that he would step down from the Board to pursue a promotion to sergeant on the Police Department. A member of the police force is not allowed to serve as higher than an officer rank while holding elected office, and the exam for sergeant is coming up soon.

Lanen's three-year term was set to end in 2012 and he was slated to run for reelection.

"He came to me, let Jim Purcell and Joyce [Bradshaw, town clerk] know," Selectman Tracy Watson said confirming the news.

Lanen's resignation adds excitement to an already hectic time at Town Hall. Selectmen are slated to start interviewing finalists for the town manager position soon, and next month there will be a Special Town Meeting to decide funding for school construction projects.

"I'm just trying to get through us losing Dan Lanen," Watson said. "He's a personal friend of mine, too."

The town bylaws allow for a special election to be held -- if a certain number of voter signatures are collected -- or for the seat to remain empty until the next scheduled election.

Watson said she would prefer not to have a special election since it would cost the town money and Lanen's term is up in March anyway.

First elected to the Board in 2006, Lanen has been a police officer for more than 20 years and was raised in North Andover. He served for six years as a medic in the Army reserve.