Shakeup At City Hall

Through a mix of department-head retirements and non-reappointments, the Elicker Administration will soon have a host of new faces in — and former Harp appointees out of — various leadership positions in City Hall.

Among the agencies to receive new leaders are the City Plan Department, the Fair Rent Commission, and the Elderly Services Division.

Mayor Justin Elicker confirmed that planned City Hall shakeup in a Monday morning interview with the Independent.

He said he will not be renewing the appointments of City Plan Director Aicha Woods and Elderly Services Director Migdalia Castro.

He said that Fair Rent Commission Executive Director Otis Johnson and Public Safety Communications Director George Peet are both soon retiring. 

And he said that city Labor Relations Director Cathleen Simpson will soon resign.

As is the case with most city departments heads, all of these top city officials were on four-year contracts set to expire on Tuesday. (The charter states that city department heads serve four- year terms that start on Feb. 1 every four years.)

“This is the first opportunity I have to appoint a team that best fits the vision that we have for New Haven,” Elicker told the Independent on Monday, referring back to the many four-year department head contracts he inherited two years in when he first came to office in 2020.

Asked about the churn at the top of the City Plan, Fair Rent, and Elderly Services Departments in particular and about his priorities when thinking about who will lead those departments next, Elicker said, ​“There’s a real opportunity here. There’s been a lot of work done on affordable housing. I think we need to expand housing accountability and ensure that there’s more advocacy within the city to protect tenants who are in unsafe or abusive environments. That’s a real opportunity I think we have, through Fair Rent and other departments.”

City spokesperson Kyle Buda said that Simpson’s last day as labor relations director will be Feb. 11. Castro will continue as the head of elderly services until her replacement is announced. Woods will continue as the head of City Plan until her replacement is announced.

Elicker stressed that these personnel moves are not about his pushing out City Hall leaders tapped by his predecessor. 

He pointed out that he will be reappointing to new four-year terms several departments heads who worked under former Mayor Toni Harp in some capacity. They include Livable City Initiative Executive Director Arlevia Samuel, City Engineer Giovanni Zinn, Fire Chief John Alston, youth services director Gwendolyn Busch Williams, and public works director Jeff Pescosolido. 

He also plans to reappoint city Corporation Counsel Patricia King and newly tapped city transportation director Sandeep Aysola.

Buda confirmed that a handful of other city department heads — including Director of Cultural Affairs Adriane Jefferson, City Librarian John Jessen, and city Health Director Maritza Bond — are all technically hired by independent boards and not by the mayor. He also said that city Building Official Jim Turcio does not require reappointment at this time, because of a state statute that determines local building official terms. 

That said, the Elicker Administration does not expect any changes to any of those positions. 

Buda pointed out that the three City Hall coordinator (or deputy mayor) positions — currently filled by Mike Piscitelli, Mehul Dalal, and Regina Rush-Kittle — are one-time mayoral appointments that do not need reappointment. 

And the mayor has stated that he will undertake a national search for a new police chief after the Board of Alders rejected the mayor’s appointment of Acting Police Chief Renee Dominguez for the permanent role.

In an email press release sent out midday Monday, Elicker said he plans to announce later this week new appointments for leadership roles in City Plan, Fair Rent, and Labor Relations.

And a city personnel report released by the city’s Human Resources department Monday afternoon states that both Johnson’s and Peet’s last day in their respective jobs will be Feb. 4. Click here to read that full personnel report.

Woods: Zoning Reform Topped 3-Year Tenure

Castro and Johnson declined to comment about their pending departures from City Hall. Woods told the Independent Monday morning she has been proud ​“to have the opportunity serve the city during this time.”

She first took over the City Plan Department in 2019 during Mayor Harp’s last year in office.

“I have absolute love and dedication for the city. It’s a really exciting time, and I feel like a turning point for the city right now, in terms of really putting it on a course for inclusive development, and also to take on the challenges of climate change adaptation.”

Woods pointed to the adoption of significant zoning reforms around inclusionary zoning and accessory dwelling units.

“These are only a small piece in the need for a comprehensive plan around affordable housing in the city,” she said. Nevertheless, her department and the City Plan Commission conducted years’ worth of research and hosted meeting after meeting on these zoning updates before the Board of Alders ultimately approved both.

“I’m extremely proud of my staff,” Woods continued. ​“They’re incredibly hardworking, competent, professional public servants.

“I hope going forward that the City Plan Department really is positioned to take on both the comprehensive plan, which is due in 2025, and also a full zoning overhaul.”