UPDATED: Finizio Makes Cabinet Appointments

Mayor-elect Daryl Finizio named seven appointments to his cabinet today as well as three appointments to the mayoral staff.

“We believe that we have a very good team in place,” he said.

Finizio said the newly appointed people are diverse in their experience and political views. He said some salaries and rates have changed, and the is working on those details.

The department appointments were:

• Jeffrey T. Londregan as law director
• Jeff Smith as director of the
• Timothy Hanser as director of the
• Kristin Havrilla Clarke as director of the
• Tommie L. Major as director of the
• Joseph Lanzafame as director of the
• Lorraine Allen as a member of the Board of Tax Assessment Appeals

In appointments for the mayor’s staff, Finzio named:

• Tammy Daugherty as office administrator and principal secretary to the mayor’s office
• Zak Leavy as executive assistant to the mayor
• Dr. Manuel Rivera as a senior education policy advisor

Finizio said a candidate has been chosen for , and that an assistant city clerk will be chosen at a later date. The new clerk was hired by City Manager Denise Rose due to stipulations in the City Charter, and Finizio will confirm this hire at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at .

Three department heads stay

Three of the appointees are already serving as director of city departments, although two of them will remain in the roles under certain conditions.

Smith is the current director of the Finance Department, but is not a New London resident. Finizio said Smith does not plan to move to New London as department heads are required to do by the City Charter, but will stay on for a six-month period allowed by the charter.

“I am pleased that Director Smith has agreed to stay on to complete this budget cycle. His years of financial experience are a profound asset to the City at this critical time,” Finizio said. “During the next six months, my administration will conduct an extensive national search for a permanent selectee for this important post.”

Lanzafame is also being reappointed, but must move to New London from his current residence in Massachusetts within the next six months in order to keep the position.

“Joe Lanzafame understands the importance of infrastructure to urban revitalization and economic development,” Finizio said. “New London needs his dedication and knowledge as we rebuild our city’s utility infrastructure.”

Major had led the Recreation Department for 21 years. Finizio said he was impressed with his commitment to revitalizing the city’s recreational facilities, including .

“You are hard pressed to find anyone as dedicated to New London as Tommie Major,” Finizio said.

Finizio Margaret Ackley as the chief of the and Ron Samul as chief of the .

New appointments

Jeffrey Londregan will replace his father, Tom Londregan, whom Finizio asked to step down as law director. Jeffrey is an associate counsel at Finizio said Jeffrey shares his vision for the role of the new law director, which he says will be a crucial position as the city transitions to a new form of government, and has previously done legal work for the city.

“Attorney Londregan is the most experienced municipal law attorney who applied for this position,” Finizio said. “His prior service to the city of New London has been extraordinary.”

Hanser replaces Keith Chapman, who has been serving as an interim director of the Department of Public Works. Hanser’s experience includes time as a chemistry teacher in Brooklyn, N.Y. as well as six years as a senior associate scientist for Pfizer. Hanser also founded and chaired the Riverside Park Neighborhood Association and was chairman of the 2011 Green Party campaign.

“He is committed to quality service provision and has a tireless work ethic,” Finizio said. “He is dedicated to integrating green thinking into city services, and utilizing new methodologies to maximize the quality of service delivery in this department. I look forward to working with him.”

Clarke will occupy a currently vacant position in the Office of Development and Planning. She will move to New London from Waterford, and will be sworn in at a later date since she will have to give notice to her current employer. Clarke is the assistant director of Planning and Development in Ledyard. She is also a former consultant for and archivist for .

“I am very pleased that, in Kristin Clarke, the city will have an urban planner who shares the philosophy on development that I outlined in the campaign, and also will have the experience and commitment to do an excellent job,” said Finizio.

Allen ran unsuccessfully for City Council in this year’s election. She will chair the Board of Tax Assessment Appeals following the resignation of former chairman Don Harrington.

“Lorraine Allen has the energy and vision we need to prepare this board for the coming reassessment,” Finizio said. “I will work closely with Chairperson Allen, and the City Council, to fill the remaining seats on this board in the coming months.”

Finizio said the mayor has the authority to make appointments to numerous municipal boards, and will look to fill these positions in the coming months. He said the reassessment process necessitated a new chairperson for the Board of Tax Assessment Appeals.

All appointees will be sworn in at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at a location to be determined.

Mayoral staff

Rivera, a New London resident who runs a national education consulting service out of New York, will join Finizio’s administration as a senior education policy advisor. Rivera, a former deputy secretary of education for New York who has been recognized as a National Superintendent of Schools of the Year, will work on a pro-bono, volunteer basis. Finizio said Rivera will also be available to the Board of Education if they request his services.

Leavy, who graduates from Eastern Connecticut State University this month with a bachelor’s degree in political science, will remain in Finizio’s administration as the mayor’s executive assistant. Leavy has been during Finizio’s transition period and was operations manager for Finizio’s campaign.

Daugherty, a realtor and office manager at , formerly worked for New London Main Street.

Allyn de Vars, chairman of Finizio’s transition team, will cease his duties after Monday. Finizio said de Vars will continue to volunteer for a yet-to-be-formed political action committee and volunteer political advisor.

Rose and Assistant to the City Manager Gail McKissick each have contracts that extend to Dec. 31, though Rose’s managerial authority will cease once Finizio takes office on Monday.

Original story:

Mayor-elect Daryl Finizio announced all of his remaining appointments today, with the exception of two vacancies in the City Clerk's Office.

Finizio announced that Jeff Smith, Tommie Major, and Joseph Lanzafame will remain as the directors of their respective departments. Smith leads the Finance Department, Major heads Recreation, and Lanzafame runs the Department of Public Utilities.

Other appointments:

• Timothy Hanser, who was campaign chairman for the Green Party's 2011 campaign and served as a senior associate scientist for Pfizer for six years, will replace Keith Chapman as director of the Department of Public Works;
• Jeffrey Londregan will replace Tom Londregan as law director;
• Kristin Havrilla Clarke, the assistant director of Planning and Development in Ledyard, will become director of the Office of Development and Planning;
• Lorraine Allen, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for City Council, will take a seat on the Board of Tax Assessment Appeals.

Finizio said the announcement of a new City Clerk and their swearing in will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Friday in City Hall.

In the mayoral staff:

• former Deputy Secretary of Education for New York Dr. Manuel Rivera will be a volunteer senior education policy advisor for Finizio;
• Zak Leavy will remain on the staff as Finizio's executive assistant;
• City Manager Denise Rose will complete her contract, which runs through Dec. 31;
• Tammy Daugherty, an office administrator at New London Harbour Towers, will be office administrator and principal secretary in the mayor's office.

Finizio said a press conference on the appointments and hiring process for the city clerk will take place at 2 p.m. at City Hall.