The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
City planning jobs get the green light
Understaffed office has residents concerned
— The Department of Planning, Conservation and Development will be expanding after the Common Council approved a new position at its last meeting.
The vote passed unanimously last week to appropriate the funds of $85,092.80 for a new city planner position.
According to the job description, the purpose of the position is to review development applications and development projects, and the implementation of planning activities for the city.
There are other vacancies within the department, including zoning enforcement officer and environmental specialist, both apMIDDLETOWN proved by common councilors, who also approved the reclassification of the deputy director post to community development specialist, now also vacant.
“What we’re missing is that full staff and complement of people that we can rely on and trust on to really help us do our jobs well as elected personnel,” said Commissioner Elizabeth Emery.
Commissioner Molly Salafia did
not agree on how the department will be reorganized, however, she voted in favor of the proposal.
“I am going to vote in favor of them because I feel like a salmon swimming upstream. I’m not making any headway, so I will be supporting these because you can’t stop the train.”
Residents urged leaders to approve the new position but emphasized the importance of hiring qualified, vetted candidates.
Certified planner and Middletown resident Laura Baum spoke in support of the hires during the public hearing. She holds a master’s degree in urban planning and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.
“I’ve seen the process that goes through, the education that’s required to get that certification, as well as the ongoing professional development that is required, and I’ve seen what that can bring, and I think that is really important for the city of Middletown,” said Baum.
The new city planner will be required to be AICP certified — a designation some have criticized Director of Planning Joseph Samolis for lacking. AICP is a professional institute that provides the only nationwide, independent verification of planners’ qualifications, according to its website.
In an email to commissioners, resident David Stott expressed deep concern over decisions being made in the department and stressed the need for a certified planner within the office.
“There is uncontrolled development going on all over Middletown without any consideration toward the neighborhoods or the area,” Stott said.
He argues that traffic has become a “nightmare” on Newfield Street and feels Washington Street is rapidly becoming “Middletown’s version of the Berlin Turnpike.”
Planning and Zoning Chairman Stephen Devoto expressed his concerns during the public hearing.
“We need not just a planner in the city in title; our city needs someone with a working knowledge of the principles of planning, knowledge of the state’s statut es regarding land use, regulations, sustainable development practices; knowledge of the best practices in urban design, preserving cultural resources, adaptive reuse and building renovation, housing, transit, street design, parking, active transportation retail, environmental practices and land conservation.”
Devoto further urged leaders to maintain transparency in the hiring process by ensuring candidates are vetted by planning professionals, and that the position be open to the public.
“The more open the hiring process is, the more confidence the public has in the person, the stronger they will be, and the better off we will be as a city.”
Concerns over the hiring process stem from controversy over Samolis’ appointment to director of the department despite pushback last year. Having previously served as Mayor Daniel Drew’s chief of staff, Samolis was nominated for the position by the mayor despite not having the minimum educational requirements and certifications to qualify for the job.
During an April 2017 meeting, the common council voted to rewrite the job description to no longer require master’s-level course work in the field and offer the ability to obtain AICP certification within three years of appointment. Samolis was appointed director shortly after, replacing Michiel Wackers, who was AICP certified.
Samolis did not return a call and email for comment.
Some members are optimistic about the newly approved position within the department and feel the decision was a step in the right direction.
“I think the new position will help out Joe Samolis, and I think it’s something that the department needs. I know there was a lack of people in the office. I think it’s good that we will have someone else to ease the burden. Hopefully, we can have that department working more effectively for the city,” Commissioner Tyrell Brown said.
“I’m pleased the positions were approved, and I hope they will be filled as soon as possible,” Devoto said after the meeting.