The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Focus groups aid search for town manager
WINSTED — Selectman have been meeting with people to gather input in the search for a new town manager since Town Manager Robert Geiger announced his plans to retire.
Mayor Candy Perez and selectmen Candace Bouchard, Linda Groppo, Jack Bourque, Todd Arcelaschi and Steve Sedlak, have met four times to gather input from a variety of individuals from town.
Most recently, heads of town departments were invited Monday to participate in a focus group. “They were asked to comment on the types of characteristics and skills they would like to see in the next town manager,” according to the meeting minutes.
Participants in that focus group included Town Clerk Sheila Sedlak, Town Assessor Rhonda Roy, Chief of Police William Fitz
gerald, Director of Finance Bruce Stratford, Director of Public Works Jim Rollins, Superintendent of Schools Melony Brady-Shanley and Geiger’s administrative assistant Laurie Bessette.
Members of the public were asked for comments about the characteristics and skills they would like to see in the next town manager, and participants included Willard Platt, Kimberly Gilbert and John Wiarda.
“Everyone just wants Bob,” Perez said. “The thing is, people like Bob because he supports them in Town Hall. He has allowed them to do their work, but if they brought an issue to them, they felt supported. If someone made a mistake, they felt Bob would mentor them in terms of how to move forward, to do better the next time, for example.
Brady-Shanley said she appreciated having a town manager that was willing to get involved in the Hinsdale School renovation project, which is awaiting state funding and has earned site plan approval from local boards and commissions.
“She was very appreciative of the support of education she had from Bob,” Perez said. “They had a peer-to-peer relationship that allowed them to talk about things together.”
Residents told the search committee that a hands-on town manager is important..
“He’s an easy man to talk to, he has a great personality, and he’s approachable. That’s what people say about Bob,” Perez said. “Residents said the thing they liked about Bob was that he’d go out himself and investigate a complaint. He was very handson. That’s important.”