North Stonington Town Hall Welcomes Two New Hires in Post-Pandemic World
North Stonington Town Hall recently welcomed two new hires to its team as it navigates the challenges of filling vital town roles in a post-pandemic world. Susan Cullen, former Stonington director of economic and community development, joined as the new town planner three weeks ago, while Laura Brown, a financial and human resources professional with experience at Mohegan Sun, will start as the new administration and finance director on Feb. 20. These new additions come as a relief to the existing staff, who have been juggling multiple responsibilities since the departure of the previous town planner and finance director.
First Selectman Robert Carlson praises the efforts of the current staff and believes that their knowledge and commitment have been crucial in the absence of these key positions. He also emphasizes the difficulty of finding qualified candidates for these roles, as fewer people are pursuing careers in finance administration and town planning. In this regard, North Stonington Town Hall considers the hiring of Cullen and Brown as a stroke of luck, as they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team.
The town’s successful recruitment of Cullen and Brown stands in contrast to neighboring communities, where many are struggling to fill similar roles. In Ledyard, Preston, Lisbon, and Bozrah, an emergency need for a building inspector has arisen after the shared inspector between these towns suffered an injury. In Rhode Island, towns have also faced challenges finding town planners in the past two years, with even contracted positions remaining vacant.
Work Environment Sets North Stonington Apart
What sets North Stonington apart, according to Carlson, is the work environment it offers. While the town may not be able to match other communities in terms of pay, it provides a small, family-style atmosphere that fosters close-knit social interactions and independent work conditions. Carlson jokingly attributes this to their “cake-eating” culture, where colleagues celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions together, making everyone feel appreciated.
Established Records of Municipal Experience
Both Cullen and Brown come to North Stonington with their own established records of municipal experience. Cullen spent over 25 years in various municipal roles, including the past four as the director of economic and community development in Stonington. Recently, she played a vital role in securing a $200,000 federal brownfield grant for the town. Meanwhile, Brown brings a decade of experience in municipal government and has worked in the finance department at Mohegan Sun for the past 18 years.
First Selectman Carlson expressed his confidence in the new hires, stating that he believes the team is now once again fully staffed with experienced employees at every position. With Cullen and Brown on board, the North Stonington Town Hall is well-equipped to meet the town’s needs and overcome the challenges of a changing post-pandemic world.
Analyst comment
Positive news. The market is expected to remain stable as North Stonington Town Hall successfully fills key positions with experienced hires. This will alleviate the burden on existing staff and allow for effective management and planning in a post-pandemic world.
