Town councilors unanimously approved the appointment of Richard Sawyer as Bedford's new planning director and zoning administrator.

“I’ll just say, ‘Thank you,’ and I look forward to working with you all over the coming years.

It’s going to be a great opportunity and I look forward to it,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer will replace longtime Planning Director Karen White, who is set to retire in August.

When Sawyer starts April 16, he will work with White to get familiar with Bedford planning, he said. The four months with White will help his transition from Nashua, where he is currently deputy planning manager.

Sawyer has worked for the city of Nashua since 1997, moving his way up through the planning department. Before that, he worked as a landscape architect with The Berkshire Design Group Inc., and the University of Massachusetts Center for Campus Master Planning.

An interview panel unanimously chose Sawyer from six candidates. The board included Town Manager Russ Marcoux, Finance Director Crystal Dionne, planning board Chairman John Levenstein, zoning board Chairman Chris Bandazian and White.

“We have checked his credentials and they were all impeccable,” Marcoux said.

Town council re-organizes On Monday, March 19, Town Clerk Wanda Jenkins swore in Councilor Michael Scanlon, who won re-election March 13, and new Councilors Mike Izbicki and Bob Young.

For 2007, Bill Van Anglen was re-elected council chairman and Paul Roy was elected vice chairman.

Van Anglen also appointed councilors to commission assignments.

“What I tried to do this year is take the less experienced councilors, the newer councilors, and put them in some roles where they will get more involved,” Van Anglen said.

Each appointment is listed below, with the liaison followed by the alternate for each commission.

• Planning board – Bob Young; Paul Roy
• Zoning board – Mike Izbicki; Norm Longval
• Conservation commission – Bill Van Anglen, Bob Young
• Historic district – Paul Roy, Bill Van Anglen
• Parks and recreation – Norm Longval; Mike Izbicki
• Water and sewer – Kevin Keyes; Michael Scanlon
• Highway safety – Paul Roy; Mike Izbicki
• Regional water district – Michael Scanlon; Kevin Keyes
• School board – Bill Van Anglen; Paul Roy
• BCTV – Mike Izbicki; Bill Van Anglen
• Village Common – Michael Scanlon; Kevin Keyes