Joe DiMartino after learning he was elected Derby mayor on Nov. 7.
DERBY – Mayor-elect Joe DiMartino announced his first major appointment on Tuesday.
The Berchem Moses law firm, based in Milford, will serve as corporation counsel for the new administration. DiMartino is scheduled to take the oath of office on Dec. 2.
Attorney Richard Buturla will lead the legal team. Buturla and the firm also represent the Town of Seymour. Bercham Moses previously served as Derby’s corporation counsel from 1998 to 2006 under Mayor Marc Garofalo.
“After working with attorney Buturla as a member of the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen a few years ago, it was clear to me that his thorough and transparent approach to giving legal advice to the City of Derby is consistent with my new approach to government here in Derby,” DiMartino said.
DiMartino, a Democrat, defeated three-term Republican incumbent Mayor Richard Dziekan on Nov. 7 in a crowded race for mayor. Alderman Gino DiGiovanni, Jr. placed third while Sharlene McEvoy placed fourth.
During an interview with the Valley Indy on Tuesday (Nov. 21), DiMartino – scheduled to become Derby’s 32nd mayor – said he is scheduled to meet with Mayor Dziekan on Nov. 28 for a transition meeting.
Meanwhile, DiMartino said he has been working with campaign manager Linda Fusco, Derby Town/City Clerk Marc Garofalo and former department of public works director Anthony DeFala to help him conduct interviews.
“We’ve been interviewing people for corporation counsel, public works director, chief of staff, police commissioner, fire commissioner and administrative assistant, and will continue doing interviews at the end of this week and early next week,” DiMartino said. “We’re trying to get the appointments set up so on Dec. 4 (the first official Monday in office after the inauguration) we are ready to go.”
Dziekan’s Former Chief Of Staff To Help
Mayor Dziekan’s former Chief of Staff Andrew Baklik is also helping DiMartino with the transition.
Baklik now works as director of municipal affairs for Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG). He said he works directly with mayors and first selectmen in his role at NVCOG and is excited to work with DiMartino on the two major projects happening downtown – the Route 34 widening project and Derby-Shelton Bridge rehab – to ensure their continuity.
“I remember walking into City Hall for the first time and thinking it would take two years just to figure out the light switches,” Baklik told the Valley Indy via an email. “In a small municipality with minimal staff like Derby, the mayor’s office has the option to have a hand in almost everything. Walking in with no experience, sometimes the hardest thing was to determine what things to work on and understanding what battles you can effectively fight. With a two-year election cycle for the mayor, you need to hit the ground running and have a real plan to tackle the large visible issues.”
Baklik offered DiMartino some advice.
“Be kind and respectful to everyone. It costs nothing. If a resident makes it to your office, it’s because what they are dealing with is a top priority in their life. Treat it as such. Choose your battles. Sometimes you have to fight, but more often than not, you are the one who will need to find the compromise that works best for everyone else. Surround yourself with smart, experienced people. This includes paid staff and appointees to boards and commissions.”
Full-Time Mayor
DiMartino had been working full-time over the past year as an in-school suspension monitor at Derby High School, but after winning the election, he resigned from the job. He previously worked for Derby Public Works for 30 years before retiring. He served more than three decades as DHS’ softball coach.
“The mayor’s job is a 24/7 job and I’m going to be a full-time mayor, and I’ll be at work every day working for the residents,” DiMartino said. “We’re going to be very transparent, and I’ll let the residents know what’s going on.”
Top Priorities
As mayor, DiMartino said he has some top priorities he hopes to knock out right away. In addition to fulfilling a campaign promise of having a forensic audit done on the city’s finances (which the Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen approved to seek firms at its Nov. 9 meeting), DiMartino will also reinstate the aldermanic subcommittees.
“Right now, we’re facing a $3 million deficit and possibly another $1 million deficit after this budget,” DiMartino said. “It’s very scary that we’re in this situation, and we want to see what’s been going over the last six years, where the money was spent and see what we’re working with going into the next fiscal year.”
DiMartino said he also hopes to fill key vacancies in City Hall, including hiring a full-time finance director and tax collector.
“That’s top of my list, we have some major vacancies in City Hall and we have to show MFAC (the state committee overseeing Derby’s finances) that we’re trying to right the ship and straighten out our finances.”
Ready To Lead
DiMartino said he hopes to lead a unified city.
“I’m a little nervous but more excited to get going,” DiMartino said. “I love this city and I want to try and turn this city around and get our finances in order. I want to make a difference. I want to give the city back to the residents and I want to give residents their voice back.”
As the father of four daughters, grandfather of two and husband to Lori, the soft spoken DiMartino said he’s as “homegrown” as they come.
“I’m ready to go and I appreciate the residents for voting me in and for their confidence in me to get the job done,” DiMartino said. “I’m not going to let them down.”
