Ansonia’s longtime assistant comptroller to retire
“His service and dedication are unsurpassed, and the city is better because of him. Words will not do him justice.” Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti
ANSONIA — For nearly three decades, Rich Bshara has been a familiar fixture at City Hall.
First working as the city’s sewer administrator/ data processing manager in 1990 and later serving as the city’s assistant comptroller since 1998, Bshara has decided the time is right to retire.
Bshara, 65, informed the Board of Aldermen this week that he’s ready to put away those spreadsheets, calculators and auditing books, and begin the next chapter of his life. He said he’s been talking about retirement for more than a year now, and said it’s “time to pull the trigger and do it.”
“I want to thank the (Cassetti) administration and all the prior administrations, elected officials and co-workers for their support and guidance over the last 28 years,” Bshara said. “I have truly enjoyed working for the taxpayers of the City of Ansonia. I look forward to turning a page and starting a new chapter in my life. “
Bshara said he plans to step down on or before Dec. 31, and offered his expertise in helping the city transition with his successor.
As assistant comptroller, Bshara was primarily responsible for budgets, contracts, tax collection, cash controls and audits, among other things.
But it’s the “interaction between city employees and various members of the public on boards and commissions” that Bshara will miss most when he leaves.
Married to his wife, Janice, for 45 years, and father of sons Gregory, Jordan and Timothy, Bshara said he hopes to find part-time employment after retirement, as well as spend more time with his family.
Mayor David Cassetti said Bshara has been a loyal and dedicated employee who will be sorely missed.
“I cannot thank Rich enough for all he has done for the city,” said Cassetti. “His service and dedication are unsurpassed, and the city is better because of him. Words will not do him justice.”
Bshara received a standing ovation and uproarious applause from the alder- men and the audience in attendance at Tuesday’s aldermanic meeting.
Alderman Joe Cassetti, when it came time for the aldermen to accept Bshara’s letter of intent to retire, quipped that he simply didn’t want to do it, as he said losing an employee of Bshara’s caliber and experience is tough.
The aldermen will form an ad-hoc committee to find a new comptroller, full- or part-time, with a annual salary between $75,000-$115,000. They asked Bshara to be part of that committee to assist in finding a qualified successor.
“Rich has done a tremendous job for us, and we could only be so lucky to find someone to take his place,” said Cassetti.