General Counsel Commission Votes to Okay Town Planner and Community Development Positions For Planning Office

After a dozen concerned residents expressed the need for the city to have planning expertise in the city's office of Planning, Conservation and Development, the General Counsel Commission of the Common Council voted to approve job descriptions for a Town Planner and a Community Development Specialist.

Community advocates, some of whom serve on commissions that depend on the expertise in the planning office spoke at the meeting expressing general approval of the proposed organization of the planning department, while suggesting edits to the job description of City Planner.

UPSEU union president Geen Thazhampallath said that the job descriptions had his union's approval.

"We as a town, are in need of a planner," Thazhampallath said.  "The decisions made here will have an impact on this town for thirty or forty years."

Stephen Devoto

Planning and Zoning chairman Stephen Devoto (who is a contributor to the Middletown Eye), indicated that plans and objectives raised by planning director Joe Samolis a year ago have not been realized because of the lack of personnel in the planning office.  He also urged the HR department to involve experts in planning in the interview process.

"I hope you 'll encourage all candidates to be vetted by planning and zoning professionals," Devoto said.

Jen Alexander

Kidcity founder Jen Alexander hoped the city would seek a talented planner with vision for the city in the future.

"This is an important time for Middletown," Alexander said.  "The state needs us to excel.  In Connecticut we are the best shot at being a second city where millenials decide to settle and work."

"I'd like to suggest that we need to find someone who doesn't just have basic experience," added Krishna Winston, who serves on the the Resource Recycling Committee.


"We have some big projects going on out there in town," according to Kate Miller who serves on the city's Conservation Commission.  "I really want to be sure there's someone from the planning office out there.  I'm concerned that right now we don't have eyes on the big projects."

Jen Mahr

"I want these descriptions to be written for what we need," said Jen Mahr, representing the Westfield Residents Association.  "Not written for someone we have in mind for the job."

Joe Samolis

City Planner Joe Samolis who wrote the job descriptions, and the new organization chart in conjunction with the city HR Department.  He reminded commission members that the Community Development position was largely funded by the federal government and the Community Block Grant Development (CDBD) program.

Samolis indicated that it was important to consider all positions in the new organization as vital.

Committee members Mary Bartolotta, Gene Nocera, Gerry Daley and Deb Kleckowsky voted to approve the new positions, while Linda Salafia voted in opposition.