Keith McLiverty
DERBY — Sal Coppola, the city’s finance director since 2015, resigned Thursday, according to Mayor Rich Dziekan’s office.
Coppla’s resignation letter says his last day was Thursday, the same day the letter was written, according to a document sent by city hall.
City Treasurer Keith McLiverty has been named interim finance director.
McLiverty has been city treasurer for more than 20 years. He lost the position Nov. 5 to Walt Mayhew, his Democratic challenger. Mayhew doesn’t take office until Dec. 7.
Derby’s charter prohibits “dual office holding” without a unanimous vote to issue a waiver by and from the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen.
So McLiverty is scheduled to resign as treasurer Friday, and assume the role of finance director on Monday.
The Aldermen/Alderwomen approved his appointment as interim finance director (contingent on his resignation as treasurer) by a 6 – 3 vote, according to the mayor’s office. Barbara L. DeGennaro, Ron Sill and Thomas Donofrio voted no.
Mayor Dziekan thanked Coppola for his service to the City of Derby.
It has been a rough year for Derby finances and the city’s finance department. Last spring McLiverty announced at a Derby tax board meeting that the city had mistakenly “double booked” state grant money, eradicating previously budgeted fund balances.
The city then had its credit rating downgraded.
Click here for a podcast interview The Valley Indy published with Coppola prior to last week’s election.
McLiverty created an eight-point recovery plan to get Derby back on the right track. That plan included temporary cutting back pension payments, restructuring debt, selling assets, and going after back taxes.
The eight-point recovery plan, which was presented to a bond ratings agency, also promised organizational changes within Derby City Hall. The finance director’s departure falls into that category.
Coppola was hired under Mayor Anita Dugatto’s administration. Prior to being finance director, he worked as a Supervisory Revenue Agent for the IRS. Click here for the press release that was issued when he was hired in 2015.
HIs resignation letter is published below.
In Derby, city treasurer is an elected position. Finance directors are hired by the administration, with approval by the legislative body.
The letter of resignation.
