Jill Rusk

resigns from the Groton City Council, taking a position as executive assistant to City Mayor Keith Hedrick.

Groton — Jill Rusk has taken a position as executive assistant to City Mayor Keith Hedrick and resigned from the City Council this past week.

Reggie Stanford, who represented District 3 in the city on the Groton Representative Town Meeting, was sworn in Monday as City Councilor to fill Rusk’s position by resolution of the City Council.

Stanford, a Chicago native and Navy veteran, is an adult probation officer and a justice of the peace for the state of Connecticut. He said Wednesday he decided to get involved with local government because of the 2016 presidential election and was elected in 2017 to the RTM. He has submitted his resignation to the RTM.

“I live in the city, and I wanted to be part of the changing atmosphere in the City of Groton,” Stanford said. “I just wanted to give back to my community. I would love to serve the people of Groton.”

Rusk said Tuesday that it was a very difficult decision to leave the City Council.

“I’m very proud of all we’ve been able to accomplish during the past almost four years I’ve been on the council, and also it’s been my absolute honor to represent the residents of the city,” Rusk said. “Due to my recent employment in the City of Groton Mayor’s office, I feel that it is best I resign to avoid any perceived conflict of interest. I look forward to serving the city in my new position.”

Heidi Comeau, who served about 15 years as executive assistant in the mayor’s office, has accepted a position as public works services coordinator for the city and will be working on roads and highway paving and stormwater management, specifically compliance with state requirements for municipal stormwater general permits, Hedrick said.

The city followed the Human Resources’ hiring process to fill the executive assistant position, with the department whittling down a pool of more than 100 applicants, Hedrick and Human Resources Director Linda Avedisian said. A four-member panel interviewed the top seven candidates, and then another four-member panel interviewed the top three candidates for a second round. The first panel included Avedisian, Hedrick, Comeau and Tina Daniels, the general manager of customer service for Groton Utilities, while the second panel featured representatives of departments that work with the executive assistant, including Human Resources, police, building and zoning and finance, they said.

Human Resources, with input from the panels, then recommended Rusk as the best fit for the job based on grading criteria, answers to questions and factors such as team fit, which Hedrick also acknowledged. Human Resources offered her the job and she started on April 22.

Hedrick on Tuesday said he thanked Rusk for her service to the city and time she spent on the City Council and looked forward to working with her in the mayor’s office.

Stanford’s term on the RTM is expected to be filled at an upcoming caucus.

Per Groton Town charter, anytime a member resigns from the RTM, the new candidate has to be elected by a caucus of the RTM members from that district, so all members of District 3 will be notified of the upcoming caucus, Town Clerk Betsy Moukawsher said. The charter requires the position be filled by the same party as the member who resigned.

Groton Democratic Town Committee Chairman Conrad Heede said two candidates for the November election are interested in the vacant position, and he’s discussing with them who prefers to step into the vacancy now and who would like to wait for November. Both already are committed to running in November.

The RTM members of District 3 will consider the applicant and vote at a caucus prior to the next RTM meeting. No formal action by the Democratic Town Committee is required, and the decision is with the RTM, Heede said.