DERBY – A prominent Democrat from Hamden has been hired as Mayor Joseph DiMartino’s chief administrative officer, the mayor’s office announced July 7.

Sean Grace, 55, previously served as chief of staff for Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett. He is the chairman of the Hamden Town Democratic Committee, according to his LinkedIn profile. He ran for state Senate in 2018 but lost in a Democratic primary to Jorge Cabrera. Grace previously served as a legislative assistant for state Senate Democrats in Hartford.

“We are excited to welcome Sean to this important leadership role,” Mayor Joseph DiMartino said in a prepared statement. “Sean’s hands-on approach, judgment, and commitment to public service will help us serve our community better and keep Derby moving forward.” 

Grace is being paid $80,000 annually. His first day was July 6.

“I am honored to join the City of Derby and contribute to what makes our community special,” Grace said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to working with neighbors, businesses, staff, and partners to ensure efficient daily operations, welcome new opportunities, and deliver outstanding services.” 

Grace is from Beacon Falls and lives in Hamden. He has an extensive family in the Valley, according to the mayor’s office.

Reshuffling The Mayor’s Office

Grace’s hiring is part of a restructuring of DiMartino’s office. DiMartino, a Democrat, is serving his second two-year term as mayor, having been first elected in November 2023.

Roger Salway, who served as the Derby economic development director since October 2022, left the job about six weeks ago, DiMartino told The Valley Indy June 23.

The mayor said Salway was paid $91,000.

DiMartino said Salway’s economic development duties will be split between Grace and Linda Fusco, DiMartino’s chief of staff. Grace will also be assisting in Fusco’s chief of staff duties, DiMartino said.

The mayor said $80,000 of the $91,000 is going toward Grace’s position as chief administrative officer. The remaining $11,000 is going to be in a special working balance account within the city budget, DiMartino said.

The position of “chief administrative officer” was established in Derby in April 2005. The salary is not stated in the ordinance that created the position but says the Alders can change it.

DiMartino said he didn’t think the position has been formally filled since Marc Garofalo was mayor. DiMartino estimated the salary to be about $69,000 in 2005. Mayor Anthony Staffieri also had a chief administrative officer, but The Valley Indy was unable to locate the salary.

“We basically said ‘let’s bring that position back, fill it, and that person can do economic development tasks and be a liaison to Linda, so that when Linda is bogged down she can hand some work to him,” DiMartino said.

DiMartino said he wants the new position to focus on economic development matters.

“We need someone to concentrate on bringing new businesses in,” DiMartino said. “We need someone who goes to the owner of the property where Big Lots (closed on Route 34 in 2025) was and asks ‘What do we need to do to help you with buildings that are sitting vacant?’”

The Derby Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen approved an updated job description for chief administrative officer at a meeting June 22 and set the salary at $80,000.

The board also raised the chief of staff’s salary to $80,000. However, the changes to the chief of staff position do not take effect until Fusco is no longer chief of staff.

Fusco said she started at about $75,000 when DiMartino was first elected. She said she is making about $81,000 today.

Salary increases for the chief of staff and the chief administrative officer are tied to the union representing Derby City Hall employees. The two positions are not union, but if Derby City Hall union employees get a raise, so do the chief of staff and the chief administrative officer.

During the June 22 Aldermen and Alderwomen meeting, Gino DiGiovanni Jr., the chairman of the Derby Republican Town Committee, questioned the process used to revise the job descriptions and salary. 

He questioned why a “special” meeting was called – that is, one not regularly scheduled. He also pointed out discussion was so limited the meeting lasted less than 15 minutes. DiGiovanni said the meeting pointed out the weakness of one-party rule. The mayor and the entire board were elected on the Democratic line.