Seymour looks to fill economic development vacancy

SEYMOUR — The town is looking to hire a new economic development director or consultant, a position vacant since late last year.

First Selectmen Kurt Miller recently appointed the Board of Selectmen to serve as a personnel search committee.

The town in March 2019 hired a consultant from the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, but the position was vacated last December, Miller said, when CERC stopped offering the service to municipalities.

The town’s Economic Development Commission in

April recommended that selectmen hire Sheila O’Malley, neighboring Ansonia’s economic development director and grants writer, as a consultant.

EDC members said O’Malley had been in the running for the job last year, but the town ultimately went with CERC.

EDC Chairwoman Christine Aliman, in a letter to the selectmen, said O’Malley has a proven track record in Ansonia and the Valley.

“She (O’Malley) has the knowledge and skill-set we feel will benefit our town and cultivate new and existing relationships with businesses,” Aliman said. “She has a proven record of her commitment to the Valley.”

Some selectmen had expressed concerns about hiring O’Malley over potential conflicts with her working in a similar capacity in Ansonia. Others were concerned whether there could be a “perception issue” with hiring O’Malley, since Miller was hired part-time last

The town’s Economic Development Commission in April recommended that selectmen hire Sheila O’Malley, neighboring Ansonia’s economic development director and grants writer, as a consultant.

year by Ansonia, and worked with O’Malley, in helping consult on that city’s budget.

Miller said he would step away from the interviewing/hiring process, and said Deputy Selectman Annmarie Drugonis would take the lead on the search committee.

Town Attorney Richard Buturla said the selectmen serving as the search committee is allowable under Freedom of Information laws, and gives them the ability to not publicly notice the meetings when hiring for an “executive level” position.

“The personnel search committee process will allow the board to consider Sheila and other potential candidates in a manner that will not compromise their present employment relationship,” Buturla said.

Whether the town goes with a full-time director or a consultant remains to be seen. Miller had said there is currently $30,000 budgeted

Town Attorney Richard Buturla said the selectmen serving as the search committee is allowable under Freedom of Information laws, and gives them the ability to not publicly notice the meetings when hiring for an “executive level” position. “The personnel search committee process will allow the board to consider Sheila and other potential candidates in a manner that will not compromise their present employment relationship,” Buturla said.

next year from the previous consulting position.

Former Selectman Stephan Behuniak, chairman of the town’s Democratic Town Committee, recently submitted a letter to the selectmen urging them to not go with O’Malley. His criticized Ansonia’s government “a complete failure,” and expressed concerns about an individual holding similar roles in a neighboring town, which are often in competition with each other.

“As a policy, I believe the Town of Seymour must steer clear of sharing services and strategy ... until such time that there is a leadership change there,” Behuniak said. “When a business is looking to move into the area, I want, and the taxpayers deserve, someone whose sole focus is growing the grand list of Seymour and bettering our community.”

O’Malley said she’d be glad to meet with Behuniak to discuss her track record, and said politics must be kept out of it

“and work together for the good of our communities.”

O’Malley, if hired in Seymour, would retain her job in Ansonia, and said a regional role could highly benefit both towns.

“After 23 years representing multiple communities and helping to secure millions in grant funding,

I’m fairly confident in the job I do and the help I have provided along the way,” she said. “I would point out that any consultant, financial adviser, attorney, engineer, architect or other professional a municipality hires, of course, represents multiple communities at the same time. And a professional does his or her job regardless of which city or town they are working in. I like to think I’ve made a significant impact in the communities I have worked in and will continue to do so whether it’s for one community or as part of a regional effort.”