Richland manager announces plans for retirement

After more than four decades of service to Richland, Dean Bastianini plans to retire as township manager.

Bastianini made the announcement at the Feb. 21 board of supervisors meeting, stating that his last day of work will be July 5.

He read his resignation letter to the board during the correspondence portion of the meeting.

“I wish to thank the board of supervisors for the opportunity to earn a living for my family and for allowing me to represent the board for over 42 years,” Bastianini said.

“Serving as Richland’s manager has been my life’s work and an experience I will always be proud of,” he continued. “I hope that you take satisfaction in knowing that cooperatively, we’ve made the community more beautiful and a better place than when we started. Best wishes for the future, your favorite township manager.”

Bastianini shared a photo from his first day of work and remarked on how his experience with the township has impacted his life.

“Forty-two years, three months and 20 days ago, I came to work in Richland for the first time,” he said. “Looking back, it went by in the blink of an eye — a happy blink of an eye. The truth is, everything comes and goes, and nothing is meant to last forever, which is what makes time so precious. There has to be an end for there to be a new beginning.

“The next generation needs to have an opportunity to make things better and improve on what we’ve done. Although this decision is bittersweet for me, I’m excited about the prospects for the future both for myself and for the township.”

Bastianini advised the supervisor “to be brave”:

“Don’t be afraid to take a leap. What’s to come next is up to you. You’re good people with good judgment. I’m confident that not only will you make everything right, you will make it better. I trust you to take care of my township.”