Tony Serio Approved As Director Of Andover Youth Services (AYS)

ANDOVER, MA —The Town of Andover Select Board on Wednesday unanimously approved Tony Serio as the new director of Andover Youth Services (AYS).

Serio, a Belmont native who is scheduled to begin his new position on Aug. 8, comes to Andover from the Town of Lexington, where he has served as the assistant director of Youth and Family Services.

In the role he is leaving, Serio provided counseling and social work services, facilitated seasonal programming for low-income community members, led a community crisis intervention team, provided suicide-prevention training and developed afterschool activities for Lexington teenagers.

Serio told Patch that his background in clinical social work —which includes a master's degree in social work and time spent as a social worker in schools, hospitals and behavioral health settings — has been important for the job in Lexington, which is more of a clinical role than his new position in Andover.

However, Serio said he also gained valuable experience in youth programming while in Lexington.

"I have a lot of experience working with kids and youth in this role, doing programming, mainly through the Teen Library Program that I have through Cary Memorial Hospital," Serio said.

Serio added: "That sort of speaks to why I was so interested in this position (in Andover). My current role is really working with families and adults, and I have a clear passion for working with teens and youth and with staff to provide programming opportunities."

In a statement distributed to members of the Select Board and read out loud at Wednesday's meeting, Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan outlined the "extensive process" that led to the hiring of Serio.

The process, according to sources familiar with the statement, included a steering committee and the participation of representatives from several Town of Andover departments, members of the public and a youth development professional from a comparable community.

Flanagan's goal, according to his statement, was to find a candidate well-balanced with experience in youth development and programming and with a background in servicing the needs of the youth in the community.

Serio will take over for Patricia Carey, who has served as interim director of AYS.

In May 2021, former AYS Director Bill Fahey was fired after being placed on leave pending an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct.

The investigation was conducted by attorney Regina Ryan, who did not consider all the allegations against Fahey substantiated, but found there was sufficient cause for the town to take action, according to a redacted report released in July of 2021.

Fahey's firing caused a public outcry and Fahey filed suit against the Town of Andover and Flanagan in June 2021, alleging breach of contract and defamation of character, among other claims.

Meanwhile, Alex Vespoli, chair of the Select Board, said AYS has continued to fulfill its mission: to give the youth of Andover and their families the best recreational, educational, social, and support programs, services, and activities.

Vispoli told Patch that he's met with Serio and that he looks forward to seeing what Serio can accomplish in his new position as director of AYS.

"(AYS) is very important to the community, which is why there was an (interim) director (Carey)," Vispoli said. "(She) has built a staff that is up and running, and (Serio) will come in and have a staff in place with programs in place and be able to move forward as he sees fit.

"There is a foundation there now, the division of youth services has been moving forward all along."

Speaking to Patch, Serio outlined his vision for AYS and said he's excited about building on the programs the organization already has in place.

"I'm really looking forward to making AYS a sustainable program, a more diverse program and a more inclusive program," Serio said. "I think from what I've learned from AYS, the programs they are currently offering are awesome and I want to continue that and just complement what is already going on there."