The administrator in Mayor Daryl Finizio's office will assume a dual role as director of the Office of Development and Planning after the current director steps down at the end of the month, Finizio announced this afternoon.
Finizio said Kristin Havrilla Clarke, whom Finizio appointed as ODP director when he took office, is leaving the job on April 1 to accept an economic development position with the Town of Groton.
"I want to thank Director Clarke for her service to New London and wish her, and her family, all the best in the future," Finizio said.
Finizio said he is appointing Tammy Daugherty, an administrator in the mayor's office, to take on the roles of both the ODP director and administrator upon Clarke's departure. Daugherty currently receives a $52,000 salary with benefits, while Clarke was paid a $90,000 salary with benefits. Finizio said Daugherty will receive a $72,000 salary under the new arrangement, but estimated that it will result in a savings to the city of of $75,000 due to the overall reduction in salaries and a payment of benefits for one person rather than two.
Finzio said Daugherty has developed working relationships with developers and city councilors in her current role.
"In discussions with developers and Council members preceding this decision, broad support was expressed for Ms. Daugherty filling this position at a time when so many development projects are in the works in the city," he said. "Many developers were pleased that Ms. Daugherty would provide continuity in city-developer relations at this critical time when we approach ground breaking at Fort Trumbull, work to establish the United States Coast Guard Museum in New London, and work on numerous other development and regionalization projects."
Daugherty has served as the mayor's office liaison to the Renaissance City Development Association, City Center District, New London Main Street, the Planning and Zoning Commission, OpSail 2012, the New London Port Authority, and the Economic Development Commission. She has also been involved in regionalization efforts for dispatch services, emergency communications, and animal control.
"Having worked closely with Ms. Daugherty I can say she enjoys my full confidence to take on this new role." Finizio said. "New London is lucky to have such a dedicated public servant willing to take on these added responsibilities as we consolidate positions to save money and continue our development efforts."
Daugherty said, "I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the city I love and to continue to work with the dedicated professionals who tirelessly promote and work to improve our community."
Clarke, who formerly served as the assistant director of Planning and Development in Ledyard, is also a former consultant for New London Main Street and archivist for New London Landmarks.
"At this time in my career, I had to do what was in the best interests of my family and my long term career goals," Clarke said "I want to thank the knowledgeable and wonderful staff in the Office of Development and Planning that I have enjoyed working with. I believe in New London's great development potential and wish the administration all the best in its work to see it realized."
Finizio's appointment of Clarke and Daugherty caused some controversy, since funding for the ODP director and some other administrative positions named by Finizio had been proposed but not approved for the 2012 fiscal year. The City Council later approved the funding for Clarke and Daugherty's positions as well as a deputy fire chief, but the salary for the ODP director and Daughterty were some of the ones that were cut in the Council's initial approved budget for the 2013 fiscal year. Finizio vetoed this budget, in part because he said it eliminated crucial administrative positions such as the ODP director.
Finizio named Daugherty as his office administrator and principal secretary during his cabinet appointments. He announced that Daugherty had been laid off following the rejection of the first post-veto budget at referendum, but later said Daugherty remained on staff since her position was being funded through the fiscal year with funds from the Finance Department, according to The Day.
