ANSONIA – After eleven years working as Ansonia’s Economic Development Director, Sheila O’Malley is leaving her post to work as the president of the Shelton Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
Her new position will pay $120,000 per year. She is scheduled to begin working May 23.
She will replace current Shelton EDC President Paul Grimmer, who is retiring after nine years in the position.
“Sheila has a great track record. She has a long history of economic development, starting in Waterbury, moving to Derby and Ansonia, so she knows the Valley really well,” Grimmer said in a phone call with The Valley Indy.
Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti also congratulated O’Malley on the move.
“Sheila is one of the brightest minds in economic development in the entire state of Connecticut. What she did in Ansonia, she’s going to go help Shelton out,” Cassetti said.
He said he isn’t looking to hire a replacement for her yet.
“Them shoes are going to be huge to refill,” he said.
Cassetti and O’Malley both said that she would continue to help out in a limited capacity in Ansonia, particularly as the city moves forward on projects relating to the former Ansonia Copper & Brass properties. She will not be on Ansonia’s payroll.
O’Malley said her salary in Ansonia is $104,012. The budget also includes an additional $71,489 for a ‘grants specialist’ line item. However, O’Malley said that money is for an assistant and professional services, and isn’t part of her salary.
O’Malley has also worked in Seymour as a part-time economic development consultant since 2021. The current budget includes $55,000 for her pay, a $10,000 increase over her initial salary. O’Malley said she hasn’t billed Seymour for any work this year.
Seymour’s recently passed budget does not include any money for the position. O’Malley confirmed she won’t be working in Seymour anymore, as did First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis.
Drugonis said that, since most land in Seymour is privately owned, it wasn’t necessary to keep O’Malley’s position in the budget. She said O’Malley’s role will be filled by other officials in town hall.
“It should be people who are in the office every day who can answer questions,” Drugonis said.
Limited Job-Sharing Duties Discussed
At a meeting April 8, the Ansonia Board of Aldermen discussed in executive session a line item titled “Contract Negotiation Re: Regional Agreement w/ Shelton Development Corporation for Economic Development.”
Those negotiations are ongoing, according to officials from both Ansonia and the Shelton EDC. However, the scope of that agreement hasn’t been made clear yet.
Cassetti said he’s been trying to talk about regionalizing economic development with Seymour and Shelton. He said Seymour wasn’t responsive to it, but that talks are ongoing with Shelton.
“There’d be a stipend for them working here,” Cassetti said.
Grimmer said that any work the Shelton EDC does for Ansonia would be limited in scope.
“The only thing that the SEDC has agreed to do is, the City of Ansonia has requested the SEDC’s assistance in managing their brownfield activities,” Grimmer said.
Brownfields are defined in state law as abandoned or underutilized sites where pollution has prevented restoration or redevelopment of the property. Brownfields in Ansonia include the former Ansonia Copper & Brass properties (7 Riverside Drive & 95 Liberty St.) and the former SHW site (35 N. Main St).
A 2024 state inventory map shows 11 brownfield sites in Ansonia.
Grimmer said the details of that work haven’t been finalized yet. He said Ansonia would pay the Shelton EDC for any work done.
“The SEDC will be reviewing that work over the next couple of months, to see if it’s something we want to take on. It’s generally in our wheelhouse and we’re happy to help when and where we can, and so we will be talking about that as a board,” Grimmer said.
Ansonia Corporation Counsel John Marini said the city is hoping to get the Shelton EDC to help out with more than brownfield management.
“I think it’s more general than that. I think it’s essentially the management of development projects, plus grants would be handled by the development corporation. That is where the city’s looking to go. The details are still being firmed up,” Marini said.
Marini said a clearer picture will be presented at the next Aldermen meeting on May 13.
Drugonis said she isn’t aware of any regionalization talks involving Seymour.
Background
O’Malley was hired by Ansonia in 2014. Before that, she worked in Derby for about six years, and also held multiple roles in Waterbury. She also worked as a project coordinator for former U.S. Rep. James Maloney.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Providence College.
During her time in Ansonia, O’Malley had a major part in a wide range of redevelopment activities throughout the city. She said in a phone call with The Valley Indy that those activities were always a team effort.
“We’re proud of Farrel Pomini, proud of Better Packages, proud of how the downtown looks and all the residential redevelopment,” O’Malley said.
Marini credited O’Malley with her work on Ansonia Copper & Brass. The city took possession of the site in 2024, after years of court proceedings and wrangling with landlords.
“The ability of the city to own that property, and to clear the way for new development, that is the absolute light at the end of the tunnel for revenue generation for the city. And that wouldn’t be possible without Sheila,” Marini said.
O’Malley was also a political supporter of “Team Casetti,” working on the mayor’s re-election campaigns.
O’Malley said she couldn’t pass on the opportunity in Shelton when it opened. However, she said she’ll miss Ansonia.
“I love Ansonia. I love working for the residents, for the mayor, for the administration, so it’s bittersweet,” O’Malley said.