The City of Ansonia is looking for another anti-blight and zoning enforcement officer.
David Blackwell Sr., who had held the position since Mayor David Cassetti took office in December 2013, resigned Friday (June 26), Cassetti said.
The mayor said Blackwell stopped at his house that night and handed over his city vehicle, phone, and camera.
He did not provide a reason for resigning, Cassetti said.
The Valley Indy left a message at Blackwell’s home Thursday.
The mayor said he was sorry to see Blackwell go.
“He was very competent,” Cassetti said. “Dave did a tremendous job.”
“I wish him well,” the mayor said.
Cassetti hired Blackwell shortly after taking office, replacing the previous anti-blight/zoning enforcement officer, who filed a labor complaint seeking his old job before reaching a settlement with the city.
Blackwell was the city’s point man in terms of inspecting blighted properties, and arranging cleanups through the city’s beefed-up “clean and lien” blight ordinance.
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Douglas Novak, the city’s public works director, has taken on Blackwell’s responsibilities on an interim basis, Cassetti said.
The mayor said he may ask Aldermen to restructure the town’s building department to split the responsibilities of zoning enforcement officer and anti-blight officer, and make the building inspector’s position, currently part-time, into a full-time position.
“I want to change things,” Cassetti said. “I think we need a full-time building inspector.”
Blackwell was earning $46,012.50 in the anti-blight/zoning enforcement job.
The city posted a notice soliciting applicants for the position Wednesday (July 1).
The job description is below.
