Politics & Government
Search Is On For A New Finance Director
After 17 years as the town's director of finance, Kevin Kane's last day was March 11.
The board of selectmen gave the official go-ahead to start the search for a new finance director at its meeting Monday night.
Kevin Kane, who had been with the town for 17 years as the director of finance, gave his two-week notice with his last day being March 11. He took a position with the town of Clinton where he will be the finance director for the town and the school system.
After town officials were notified Kane would be leaving, First Selectman Mary Glassman said they moved quickly. The town contacted Hartford officials, as the city recently underwent a finance director search, for possible candidates for a consultant position to the department of finance while the town conducts its search.
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"This is the most important position in the town," said Glassman of the finance director position.
Michael Foley was tapped as the consultant to help the town during the transition and was on board quickly enough to work with Kane before his departure. Kane has also said he would be available to help while the search is underway. (Both Kane and Foley were at the board of finance meeting Tuesday night where town budgets were discussed.)
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In the meantime, Thomas F. Cooke, director of administrative services, was named interim acting director of finance-treasurer.
At their meeting Monday the selectmen went over some of the changes to the job description that will be posted and the pay range. The pay range was $76,821 to $117,842, said Selectman Robert S. Hensley, but the personnel subcommittee looked over similar positions in other towns and raised the range to $80,000 to $130,000 to remain competitive.
It was decided the increased pay range would ensure a better, larger pool of qualified candidates. The new job description also includes the preference for a CPA, emphasizes the night meeting aspect of the job, the supervisory role of the risk management position and participation in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CARF) for the town.
Glassman could not say how long the search process will take.
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