RICHMOND — After nearly 30 years of service for the town of West Greenwich, Danielle Andrews was ready for a change. It only makes it that much more exciting, she said, that the change includes a homecoming of sorts.
Members of the Richmond Town Council voted 4-0 last week to approve the hiring of Andrews to serve as the town’s next finance director. Council Vice President Rich Nassaney was absent from the meeting and did not vote.
“I am ready for a change,” Andrews said at the special meeting held Wednesday. “I grew up in Richmond, and I had worked here for a year and a half before I had gone to West Greenwich, so I am excited to return.”
A 29-year employee of West Greenwich, Andrews started with the town as a clerk with the assessor’s office and worked her way up, joining the finance department before serving the past 12 years as treasurer.
She comes to the town with considerable experience in finance and received a strong referral from Finance Director Laura Kenyon, who will be stepping down following her second tenure with the town after years of public service. Kenyon referred to Andrews as talented and said that the town has “an amazing replacement coming in.”
Kenyon said she will also remain available for questions and consults as needed, especially to help ease the transfer. She said that although she is retiring from full-time work, she will remain in the region and available.
“I will make myself available for as long as (Danielle) wants me,” she said. “I may be remote, she may be calling when I have my knee replaced, but I will be in the area.”
For the town, the ability to hire an experienced finance professional provides a sigh of relief. Council President Mark Trimmer noted that Kenyon has long been a valuable member of the town’s administrative staff.
Kenyon served as finance director in Hopkinton for five years before taking a job as finance director in Narragansett in 2014. She returned to the community in 2019, taking over a vacancy that had remained open for nearly 6 months after Kelli Russ had stepped down. Russ, who was originally hired in May 2018, had returned a few months later to her previous position in Foster.
“I remember when we hired Laura. She served well and we will miss her a lot,” Trimmer said.
Council members said that they expect Andrews will be able to hit the ground running, especially given her background. With her time in West Greenwich, she worked for a town finance department while navigating the challenges of being part of a regional school district, Exeter-West Greenwich.
Councilman Michael Colasante said the town was fortunate to get someone who understood these challenges. He and Trimmer each said they expect she will be a good addition to the staff.
Andrews finished the conversation by saying is ready to begin and looks forward to joining the team.
“I am very excited to join, very excited for a change,” she said.