The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted at the Tuesday, March 20, public meeting to accept Town Administrator Mark Andrews' resignation effective Friday, April 13 and waive the usual 90 day notification of resignation required by his contract.

"It comes with a heavy heart," said Andrews, "and after close consultation with my family…I will be accepting a position in Wenham."

Andrews will start April 16 as Wenham's town administrator. He will be on call for Wareham for 30 days.

The Selectmen also voted unanimously to give a "vote of confidence" to Andrews, which works as an official recommendation from the board and is a show of support for Andrews and his work.

Community Events Committee volunteer Susan Ricci and Board of Selectmen candidate Amit Johar came out in support for Andrews during the "citizens participation" portion of the meeting.

"Four days ago a shockwave spread through this town with the news that we lost one of the best town administrators … in the past 2 decades," said Ricci. "I would like to thank Mr. Andrews for all of your effort in trying to make this a turn-around community."

Johar expressed hope that the Board of Selectmen could make a counter-offer to Andrews to keep him in Wareham.

Selectmen Ellen Begley mentioned later in the meeting after Andrews' resignation that the board had attempted to persuade Andrews to stay, but to no avail.

Selectmen Walter Cruz, Steve Holmes, Cara Winslow, and Begley were present Tuesday. Selectman Michael Schneider was not present.

After his resignation, Andrews gave a black long-sleeved shirt to Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Walter Cruz that had written, "Chairman of the Board, Walter B. Cruz, Sr., 2011-2012," over the upper left torso area.

"It's a golf shirt," Cruz later commented.