FILE PHOTO
Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan.
DERBY — Mayor Rich Dziekan is recommending changing the salaries for the finance director, building official, and zoning enforcement officer positions within city government.
Finance Director
The finance director’s position is currently slated in the budget as $70,500, according to city hall staff. Mayor Dziekan is recommending the salary be changed to $95,000.
The mayor, pointing to a salary survey from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, said Derby’s current salary for finance director is well below the going rate.
The pay is too low to attract qualified candidates, the mayor indicated.
“We really need to upgrade where we are at, and we need to go out (and) get the professionals in here that we need, that the City of Derby deserves, that the citizens of Derby deserve,” he said during a meeting Sept. 1 of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen.
Keith McLiverty has been the city’s interim finance since November 2019, following the resignation of Sal Coppola, who had held the position since 2015.
In his letter to the Aldermen/Alderwomen, Dziekan noted the statewide average for finance director is $117,604. Seymour pays $122,941. Naugatuck pays $117,604. Derby Public Schools pays its finance director $121,000, the mayor pointed out.
“Accounting for the fact that we are a distressed municipality, but also considering the vast disparity between the current Derby Finance Director salary and the state average, I recommend we set the salary at $95,000 per year,” Mayor Dziekan said in his letter.
Derby’s finances have been a weak spot in city government. The city’s credit rating has been downgraded by ratings agencies, and a mistake in tracking grants resulted in a financial mess. Click here for a previous story.
The mayor said he wants to find a permanent finance director, but said the salary should be addressed before the job is posted.
Building Official
The building official’s position is slated at $85,400. However, according to city hall, that dollar amount includes the titles of building official, along with zoning & wetlands enforcement officer.
Carlo Sarmiento is the city’s building official, but he resigned as zoning & wetlands enforcement officer after questions were raised about his motorcycle club’s use of a building in east Derby. He is still getting paid a full salary.
Mayor Dziekan is recommending the ZEO/WEO position be made a part-time position with a salary of $23,632.
The mayor is recommending the building official position be set at $71,209.
Reaction
Mayor Dziekan was hoping the Aldermen & Alderwomen would adopt the new salaries at the Sept. 1 meeting.
However, Alderman Ron Sill pushed the brakes on the issue, suggesting the matter be hashed out an Aldermanic subcommittee and then brought back to full board for a vote. Derby follows that process for most issues in the city.
Ultimately the Aldermen & Alderwomen voted to send the salary recommendations to the Operations and Procedures Subcommittee with a 6 – 1 vote. Alderman Charles Sampson voted against the motion to send it to the subcommittee.
The subcommittee is expected to meet 5:15 p.m. Sept. 24.
Online Reaction
The Valley Indy maintains a Derby-centric, moderated Facebook group called “Derby CT News & Info.”
On Sept. 3, Walt Mayhew, the city treasurer asked about the salary issue on the group’s page. Click here to read his questions and comments that followed.
Click this link for info regarding what building officials or zoning enforcement officers are paid elsewhere.
Click this link for info regarding what finance directors are paid elsewhere.
