Seymour’s part-time economic development director has left his position with the town after seven years on the job.
Fred Messore, who was hired under former First Selectman Paul Roy’s administration in 2011, has taken a similar position with better pay and benefits in West Haven, according to First Selectman Kurt Miller.
Messore was paid $40,000 per year in Seymour, Miller said, and worked between 20 and 25 hours per week.
Messore is also a Realtor with Colonial Properties. His last day in Seymour was Jan. 26.
He left on good terms, with several officials wishing him good luck on his personal Facebook page.
“It was truly a pleasure and honor working side by side with all and feel I’m leaving the town in a better place than when I arrived,” Messore said on Facebook.
“I thought Fred did a nice job,” Miller said in an email. “He worked hard on getting our Downtown Action Strategy up and running, our greenway trail completed, built relationships with existing business owners, and worked to improve parking downtown.”
Whether Messore’s position will be filled remains to be seen, according to the First Selectman.
“No one will be hired right away. I will be meeting with our (Economic Development Commission) to discuss direction and philosophy,” Miller said. “ At that point we will make a decision as to how we will move forward. I would expect that decision to be made at some point in late spring or early summer.”
Messore went beyond the municipal call of duty in Seymour in 2012, successfully catching a mouse that interrupted a Board of Selectmen meeting.
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