ANSONIA – A city Alderman looks set to become the city’s human resources director and chief operating officer (COO), according to a contract before the Board of Aldermen for approval.

Republican Alderman Joseph Jaumann, a lawyer who has represented the city’s Fifth Ward since 2017, is resigning from his elected office to take the job.

The city will pay Jaumann $130,000 per year for five years, according to the contract.

The city’s Board of Aldermen are scheduled to accept Jaumann’s departure from the board and potentially approve his city contract at a Zoom meeting on Tuesday (Aug. 12).

Corporation counsel John Marini said Jaumann has the experience to do the job, citing the Alderman’s legal experience and local government involvement.

“He’s worked in the private context and the public context, and so has a great grasp of, as an attorney, any issue. Legalities especially, when it comes to both operations management and human resources, that legal perspective saves a great deal of time,” Marini said.

Marini also referred to Jaumann’s past experience as a blight hearing officer and chairman of the city’s planning & zoning commission.

“When you take a look at familiarity with city operations, being on the same page in terms of improving the city, having the same passion to serve, we know it’s there,” Marini said.

However, city Democrats said that Mayor David Cassetti’s administration is attempting to entrench itself in city hall before election day this November.

Ansonia Democratic Town Committee Chairman Dave Hannon said in a written statement that the hiring is “an obvious desperate attempt to get more money for privileged city hall insiders and a blatantly partisan attempt to embed Cassetti loyalists in a future Frank Tyszka administration.”

Tyszka is a Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Mayor David Cassetti.

Tyszka said that the city is wasting money by hiring Jaumann. He said that, after benefits are factored in, the city will be paying upwards of $160,000 each year.

“You’re looking at $160,000 to $170,000 for a five-year deal, and these people may not be in office next November, so I don’t understand at all. It’s very underhanded,” Tyszka said. “It sounds like another special political deal for political insiders who pay no attention to the budget people in Ansonia.”

Tyszka said that the city needed to hire someone to fill the position. However, Tyszka questioned Jaumann’s qualifications and said he would have looked elsewhere for candidates.

He said he doesn’t trust Jaumann to act impartially in his new role.

“I’d be looking for people with certifications, not just political patronage. That’s gotta go. I would hope that someone who had a problem with the city would have someone in human resources that knew the laws, that knew their rights, and could deal with them correctly. Versus, ‘Oh, the city doesn’t like you, you’re out of here,’” Tyszka said.

Marini, in response to the comments, said that Democrats have a history of criticizing anything the Cassetti administration does.

“It’s no surprise that there’s been criticism, because there’s absolutely no initiative or policy that they have not criticized,” Marini said.

Marini said that Jaumann would be nonpartisan. He added that Jaumann sat on the zoning board of appeals under Democratic Mayor James Della Volpe’s administration.

“Both parties have recognized in the past at least that Joe is a professional who is effective at what he does, whether it’s on the land use board or the Board of Aldermen, or here in this new capacity that we’re very excited to have him on,” Marini said.

The administration did not post the position to solicit candidates. Marini said that the city didn’t advertise the job posting because it isn’t a union position.

Jaumann currently works as an assistant attorney general in the state Office of the Attorney General, according to his LinkedIn page. Marini said Jaumann will be resigning from that position before starting work in his new role on Aug. 25.

The Valley Indy attempted to reach Jaumann and Cassetti for comment, but did not hear back.

Derby also created a human resources director position in 2022 under Mayor Rich Dziekan, hiring Katherine R. Christopher for the role for $89,180 per year. Her pay is the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit after Mayor Joseph DiMartino’s administration reduced her salary to $70,000.

In Seymour, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said that human resources director Chris Pelosi is paid $118,900 per year.

Aldermen To Choose Replacement For Jaumann

The Aldermen are also scheduled to vote on a new member to fill Jaumann’s vacancy at a special Zoom meeting, scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Aug. 12 (fifteen minutes before the regular meeting).

The agenda for the meeting does not list any candidates.

The Board of Aldermen includes twelve Republicans, as well as Bobbi Tar, an independent who has previously run on the Republican line. There are no Democrats on the Board.

Any replacement would serve as Fifth Ward Alderman until election day on Nov. 4.