Although the resignations, especially Molleda are long overdue, this now leaves the Segarra Administration without a permanent Chief Operating Officer, Chief of Staff, Corporation Counsel, Human Resources Director, Public Works Director, Finance Director, Fire Chief and the Director of Emergency Dispatch Center. Does anyone see a problem here? These positions need to be filled by competent people that care about Hartford and actually live here to bring stability back to City Government
We don't need to hire anymore consultants at $85.00 an hour to determine how to fill these slots either.
The Mayor needs to begin re-stocking his cabinet soon though if he is going to survive. The COO position has been open for over a year now and the next departure from City Hall needs to be Saundra Kee - Borges. Acting positions are nothing more than seat warmers. We need to have strong professional leadership coming out of City Hall for a change. Professionals that have vision and goals and can implement change to move our City forward efficiently in all of these vacant positions
Here is the press release from the Mayor's Office and not one mention of a ribbon cutting
Today, Mayor Segarra announced that he has accepted the resignation of Kevin Burnham, Director of the Department of Public Works and Julio Molleda, Director of Finance. Mr. Burnham has worked for the City of Hartford since 2002 and has an annual salary of $120,019. Mr. Molleda worked for the Hartford Library and Board of Education before coming to City Hall in 2011 at an annual salary of $151,918. Their resignation is effective October 4th.
Concurrently,
Mayor Segarra has appointed two long-standing professionals with experience in
local government to fill the positions. Mr. Joseph A. Ruffo, CPA will take over
as Interim Director of Finance. Mr. Ruffo, a former Auditor, Accounting
Instructor and Budget Reviewer for the Government Finance Officers Association
for more than 20 years, has been the Comptroller/Deputy Comptroller for the City
of Norwich since 1987. He will continue at the same salary as the previous
finance director.
The Mayor has also
appointed Mr. Keith Chapman, former Town Manager of Newington, Special Advisor
to the City Manager of New London and Hartford, as Interim Director of the
Department of Public Works. Mr. Chapman has overseen the Public Works Department
in Newington and New London and has over 20 years of experience in city
management. Mr. Chapman’s salary is $140,000.
Both Mr. Chapman
and Mr. Ruffo will start on Monday, September 16 to begin the transition.
