Novak declined to comment when leaving the building a few minutes before Cassetti’s announcement.
The mayor had planned on moving Novak to a new position as the head of the city’s land use department, but Aldermen tabled the request during a meeting this week.
In a letter released by the mayor’s office after the announcement, Novak wrote that “After many hours of thought and consideration, I deeply regret to inform you that I will be leaving City service as of the close of business Thursday.”
In the letter, Novak did not offer a specific reason for resigning, but said he enjoyed his two years as DPW superintendent, thanking Cassetti and wishing him well.
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Cassetti had hired Novak to serve in the $72,000-per-year superintendent’s job soon after taking office, replacing Michael Schryver, who retired in January 2014.
Cassetti praised Novak and said he was sorry to see him go.
“It was his decision,” Cassetti said. “I regret it, because Doug did very well for the City of Ansonia for two years during my administration. I know we all didn’t get along with him, but, you know, that was his decision.”
Cassetti announced that he’s appointed Michael D’Alessio Jr. interim DPW superintendent.
The mayor also announced that Kevin Cegelka, a 15-year employee of the department, would be promoted to the position of street foreman vacated by the recent retirement of longtime employee Carmen Pitney.
Both moves were greeted with applause by DPW employees.
Click the play button on the video above to see the mayor’s announcement.
D’Alessio, a lifelong Ansonia resident, has been a DPW employee for about a year, and before that held management positions at rubbish companies based in Derby and New London.
He said he hoped to boost morale in the department going forward.
“Day-to-day operations run themselves, mostly. The biggest part is the morale. The morale’s been slacking a little bit,” he said.
Asked why, he said Novak’s management style rubbed some employees the wrong way.
“It’s the way the gentlemen are given their orders,” D’Alessio said. “There’s different ways of managing people.”
“Dave’s a personal friend of mine, he’s been doing a great job for the city, and I want to do the same with public works,” he added later.
Timothy Holman, the union steward for DPW employees, praised the mayor’s moves.
“The union’s very happy with the decision,” Holman said. “I think he made the right choice.”
He called D’Alessio a “great candidate.”
“He’s a people person, he works with the guys, all the guys know him,” he said. “He can be tough when he needs to be tough, but he also understands the working relationships we have.”
Holman also praised the decision to promote Cegelka, because he said it shows the city will reward internal candidates when they do their jobs well.
He downplayed friction between Novak and DPW employees.
“Doug was great, we all respected him,” he said. “I’m very sorry to see him go. But the union’s ecstatic and we’re looking forward to working with Mike.”
Article continues after photo of Cegelka, Cassetti, and D’Alessio.
Land Use Reshuffle In Limbo
Still unresolved — just what will happen to Cassetti’s plan for the land use office, now that Novak won’t be heading it up.
Ronda Porrini, a former land use official from Plymouth, has been appointed to be the land use administrator, at a salary of $55,000 per year.
Cassetti wanted to appoint Novak as the office’s director at a salary of $80,000.
But Aldermen declined to endorse the new job this week, instead tabling the matter.
The mayor said he thinks Novak would have taken the job if the Aldermen had approved the salary he had recommended.
“I was a little upset because I really wanted a transformation in the building department and I thought he was a real good fit,” Cassetti said. “But I think the salary was an issue and he said ‘I’m not working for less’ so he decided to pack it in.”
Novak had also been serving as acting anti-blight officer following the resignation of David Blackwell Sr. in July.
City officials said they will renew a search to fill that post, which carries an annual salary of $47,000, and continue discussions with Aldermen over how to revamp the land use office.
“Now we’ve got to get some candidates for positions,” the mayor said.
What specific direction the new land use office takes is still an open question.
