Community Corner
Joplin, Others Out At RCDA
New London Attorney Linda Mariani will take over as President
Mayor Daryl Finizio has announced a change of leadership at the Renaissance City Development Association, as longtime head Michael Joplin and the two vice presidents are stepping down.
Joplin and Vice Presidents Karl Sternlof and John Johnson announced they would resign at the end of this week from the organization.
New London Attorney Linda Mariani will take over as President, New London Developer Joe Grillo will serve as first Vice President, and Former New London Mayor Ron Nossek will serve as 2nd Vice President.
"A little over a year ago our City inaugurated a new form of government," Finizio said in a press release issued Monday afternoon. "I believe the Mayor’s Office was created, in part, to streamline the City's approach to development and consolidate our development agencies and commissions.
"Over the past year, my administration has been working closely with the former NLDC, now RCDA, as well as the City Council, to change our approach to development and enter a new era in co-operative development leadership. Today marks the next stage of that transition."
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The shake-up comes in the wake last month of the disintegration of the deal to build 103 housing units at Fort Trumbull.
"It has been an honor to serve the people of the City of New London and the State of Connecticut," Joplin said in the press release. "I am confident that the City administration is ready to assume a more direct role in future City development. Over the past year we have seen a more co-operative working relationship with the City of New London than I have seen during my 15 year involvement in this project."New board officers are expected to be elected at a special meeting of the RCDA Board on Friday, the press release said.
"I look forward to working with the City Administration to get forward movement at Fort Trumbull," Mariani said in the press release. "I believe the time has come for the City to take the lead as a driving force in this effort and believe RCDA and the City will forge and even stronger partnership moving forward."
Finizio said in the press release that the City will continue to work with the new RCDA leadership over the next year in merging the administrative functions and offices of RCDA into city planning staff and space.
Finizio also stated that the administration remains committed to transferring title to any remaining deeds held by RCDA to the city.
"Moving forward I intend to advocate strongly for the mixed use green integrated technology neighborhood on the peninsula that was a focus of my campaign for Mayor," Finizio said in the release. "These changes announced today do not merely represent a change in personnel but a change in the interpretation of the MDP. I have every confidence in the new leadership at RCDA to cooperate with the City on a new shared vision for development at Fort Trumbull."
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