Stonington about to fill director of planning vacancy

Stonington — More than three and half years after the death of Director of Planning Bill Haase, it appears the town finally will hire a replacement.

The position has remained vacant, with former First Selectmen Ed Haberek and George Crouse serving as the acting directors of planning and Town Planner Keith Brynes taking on some of the responsibilities of the job.

Town officials were reluctant to fully fund the position until this July. A search this fall failed to produce a qualified candidate.

But First Selectman Rob Simmons, who made the hiring of a new director of planning one of the priorities of his campaign, said this week that he expects to fill the position by the end of this month.

Simmons said a new search, which began before he took office, produced 24 applicants from as far away as Arizona and Florida. Fifteen of those were invited to submit more information about themselves and seven were chosen to be interviewed. One of those has dropped out after finding a new job.

Simmons said the remaining six will be interviewed by a search committee on Dec. 3.

“This is the most important hire of the year for the town,” Simmons said.

He said the new director will work with the Planning and Zoning Commission and town staff to implement the recommendations in the newly adopted Plan of Conservation and Development and help chart the town’s course over the next five years.

He said the new director also will help ensure future development fits the character of the town and will review the existing zoning regulations to determine which need to be revised.

“We have to be in the position to capture the very best (business) organizations we can and provide the best services we can for the businesses that are already here,” he said.