ANSONIA – During the first meeting of the newly elected Board of Aldermen, members voted to approve nearly 30 appointments to various positions in city boards and departments.

At the Dec. 9 meeting, the board approved Mayor Frank Tyszka’s appointments to boards including the board of public works, the school building commission, and the board of apportionment and taxation (tax board). 

The board also voted to elect Second Ward Alderman Frank Pergola as its president. The role was previously held by former Alderman Joshua Shuart.

The appointments include 11 Democrats, five Republicans, one Independent Party member, and nine people who are either politically unaffiliated or did not have a party listed next to their name. 

On the city staff side, John Androski was appointed as the city’s new corporation counsel, replacing John Marini. Michael D’Alessio was appointed as the new superintendent of public works following Timothy Holman’s retirement. The board appointed Daniel Kershaw as the city’s tree warden, a position in the department of public works which had previously been vacant.

School Building Commission Gets Eight New Members

The biggest shake-up among city boards was to the city’s 12-member school building commission. That commission has had a hand in overseeing projects such as the new middle school construction, the renovation of Nolan Field, and the replacement of a roof at Ansonia High School. Eight of the board’s 12 members were replaced in the meeting.

The board is required to have three Aldermen, three tax board members, three school board members, and three community representatives under the city’s charter.

Former Aldermen Joshua Shuart, Anthony Mammone, and Joseph Jeanette were replaced on the school building commission by newly elected Alderwomen Lisa Glazer and Anne Lynch, and Alderman Daniel Stahl. Former tax board members Gary Cassetti and Michael D’Alessio were replaced by Cheryl Flaherty and Richard Thayer.

Sharon Voroschak and Tracey DeLibero were replaced on the commission by Christopher Phipps and Steven Adamowski. School board member Richard Bshara retained his seat on the commission. 

Two of the three community representatives – Amy Brejwo and Bobbi Evans – retained their seats on the commission. Beverly Tidmarsh was appointed as a replacement for Nancy Monaco.

Economic Development Commission Returns

The board also approved four new appointments to the city’s economic development commission. Tyszka said on the campaign trail that he would re-establish the board, which has not met since 2020, according to the city website.

The new members are Charlene Colucci, Tara Kolakowski, James Smith, and James Prestiano. All members are Democrats, except for Prestiano, who is politically unaffiliated.

Two new members were appointed to the city’s tax board. Cheryl Flaherty replaces Michael D’Alessio, who resigned from the board following his appointment as superintendent of public works. Richard Thayer was appointed as a replacement for Breandan McTighe. Flaherty is a Democrat and Thayer is a Republican.

Robert Jaskilka, a member of the Independent Party, was re-appointed to the tax board.

The board of library directors also has two new members in Karen Phipps and Mary Gibson, both Democrats. They replace Aleida Filippone and Third Ward Alderman Sean Rallis, who are also both Democrats.

Finally, the board of police commissioners got one new member – Philip Tripp, a former Republican Alderman who is politically unaffiliated but ran for mayor as a Democrat in 2019. Tripp replaces Republican former Alderman Anthony Levinsky on the board.

Most of the appointments were unanimously approved. Alderman Karl Williams voted against D’Alessio’s appointment as superintendent of public works, and Alderman Tyler Kennedy abstained from that vote.

The full list of appointees is included below.

Corporation Counsel

John F.X. Androski (D) (replaces John Marini)

Superintendent of Public Works

Michael D’Alessio (D) (replaces Timothy Holman)

Tree Warden

Daniel T. Kershaw (no party listed) (new appointment)

Board of Public Works

Paul Juzwishen (R) (reappointment)

Daniel King (R) (reappointment)

School Building Commission

Lisa Glazer (D) (replaces Joshua Shuart)

Anne Lynch (D) (replaces Anthony Mammone)

Daniel Stahl (D) (replaces Joseph Jeanette)

Cheryl Flaherty (D) (replaces Gary Cassetti)

Rasheem Gonzalez (R) (reappointment)

Richard Thayer (R) (replaces Michael D’Alessio)

Steven Adamowski (U) (replaces Sharon Voroschak)

Richard Bshara (U) (reappointment)

Christopher Phipps (U) (replaces Tracey DeLibero)

Amy Brejwo (U) (reappointment)

Robert Evans (R) (reappointment)

Beverly Tidmarsh (U) (replaces Nancy Monaco)

Board of Police Commissioners

Bryan Douglas (U) (reappointment)

Philip Tripp (U) (replaces Anthony Levinsky)

Board of Apportionment and Taxation

Cheryl Flaherty (D) (replaces Michael D’Alessio)

Robert Jaskilka (I) (reappointment)

Richard Thayer (R) (replaces Breandan McTighe)

Board of Library Directors

Karen Phipps (D) (replaces Aleida Filippone)

Mary Gibson (D) (replaces Sean Rallis) 

Economic Development Commission

Charlene Colucci (D) (new appointment)

Tara Kolakowski (D) (new appointment)

James Prestiano (U) (new appointment)

James Smith (D) (new appointment)