NORWICH SEEKS NEW HARBORMASTER NORWICH-N. LONDONWESTERLY SEES SMALL JOB GROWTH IN YEAR

Norwich — The Harbor Management Commission is seeking a new harbormaster following the resignation of Michael Valentine, who has held the position for the past five years.

Valentine submitted his resignation letter July 14 to the city clerk’s office, citing “growing commitments in other areas” and lack of time for the position.

Harbor Management Commission Chairman Gerald Martin said the commission has a few possible candidates for the post

According to new data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Norwich-New London-Westerly metro area saw a 0.5 percent increase in nonfarm payroll enrollment from June 2016 to June 2017, an increase of 600 jobs.

Out of 388 metro areas listed, this area ranks at 310. It’s not the lowest in Connecticut, with Waterbury coming in just 11 spots from the bottom for losing 700 jobs, a 1 percent decrease.

The Connecticut metro area faring the best on these metrics is New Haven, which came in around the middle of the list at 1.5 percent growth, or 4,300 jobs.

The five metro areas with the highest percent change over the year are Manhattan, Kan., at 7.8 percent; Fort Collins, Colo., at 7.2 percent; Sebring, Fla., at 5.7 percent; Lawrence, Kan., at 5.4 percent, and Enid, Okla., at 5.4 percent.

The bottom metro areas on the list, with employment drops between 3.8 percent and 2.1 percent, are Casper, Wyo.; Houma-Thibodaux, La.; Cape Girardeau, Mo.-Ill.; Beckley, W.Va.; and Fairbanks, Alaska.

Overall, employment increased in 342 metropolitan areas, decreased in 39 and stayed the same in seven.