Mayor mum on town manager candidates

WINSTED — Mayor Candy Perez was tight-lipped Tuesday afternoon when asked about Winsted’s ongoing search for a new town manager.

“As you know, we didn’t make a decision Monday night,� she said in a phone interview. “I’m not making any other comments beyond that.�

The mayor and fellow selectmen met in executive session Monday night, presumably with the intention of selecting one of two candidates who were interviewed by the board last week. But Perez would not say whether one, two or more candidates were being considered for the position.

It has been widely reported that there were two finalists under consideration last week — Gary Champy, town manager of Randolph, Vt., and Mark Turcotte, purchasing director in Monroe, Conn. Both candidates met with selectmen and with town department heads, but Perez would not confirm that these two candidates were still under consideration.

The field of potential candidates available for the town manager position expanded greatly last month when voters approved a charter revision that allows candidates to live outside the town of Winchester’s borders.

The removal of language requiring residency was initially expected to help Winsted keep former Town Manager Wayne Dove of Colebrook in the position, but Dove vacated the position at the end of October.

Perez did say town operations have been going smoothly during the transition, with Winsted Purchasing Director Mark Douglass serving as temporary interim town manager.

“Mark Douglass has been doing a great job, as have all of the department heads, in keeping us moving in the right direction and running day-to-day operations,� she said.

Selectmen scheduled a meeting for Monday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall to resume discussion regarding the town manager position. The item is anticipated to again be taken up in executive session.

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