Matteson Wins Over Skeptic, Department Heads

Sean Matteson got a second chance to convince alders that he’s not the political operative that they remember under a previous mayor, but the hands-on manager to help the mayor run an efficient government that saves money and gets things done.

The Board of Alders Aldermanic Committee held a public hearing at City Hall Thursday on the Harp administration’s second attempt to change Matteson’s acting chief administrative officer status to permanent.

Mayor Toni Harp resubmitted Matteson’s appointment after the Board of Alders rejected him for a permanent slot in that position, which oversees line departments like police, fire and public works. Matteson, who has held the position on an acting basis, subsequently tendered his resignation after he reached the 180-day limit for acting status.

In order to speed up possible approval this time of the nomination, the alder committee did not vote on Matteson’s appointment after Thursday night’s hearing. That would have required the full Board of Alders to receive the matter at its meeting this coming Monday night and then wait another two weeks to vote on it. Instead, the committee left the matter technically open so the full board, under its rules, can take it up at Monday’s meeting and vote.

Board of Alders Majority Leader Richard Furlow said he feels confident that the full board is prepared to vote in Matteson’s favor on Monday based on his work as acting chief administrative officer (CAO). He said it mattered that many of the department heads that Matteson has been managing spoke favorably of him at Thursday’s hearing but the board also has been doing its homework by talking to many of those department heads and paying attention to how he has handled the things that have come up during his tenure.

During Thursday night’s hearing, Matteson was modest about his accomplishments in the short time he has been CAO. He sought to moderate alders’ expectations as they pressed him about how he plans to tackle public safety overtime, cut through the city’s tree-trimming backlog, and finally help the city cops and firefighters get contracts.

He told alders that he’d spent the past six months working to move along those project, as well as updating city cell phone and social media policies.

“All in all, it’s been a busy past six months,” Matteson said. ​“If given the opportunity, I look forward to the challenges that await next year. There are places to improve, and I look toward partnering with alders to achieve those things.”

Edgewood Alder Evette Hamilton told Matteson her main concern was that he help the city resolve the two outstanding contracts with police and fire with an eye toward stemming the flow of cop out of the city.

“For me, it’s about services to our community,” she said. ​“If you’re confirmed, the first and foremost priority should be to get these police and fire contracts addressed. Settle these contracts.

Hamilton said she’s ready to see police in her neighborhood again. ​“There’s a lot of shi… stuff going on,” she said. ​“I need to see officers walking the beat.”

Matteson said he felt the same sense of urgency. He told Hamilton a more modest version of what Mayor Harp said at a press event earlier Thursday about the police contract, and that is it the process would resolve faster if the police union returns to the negotiating table. Currently, the contract is in arbitration.

“I understand that three years without a contract, without pay raises is quite taxing,” he said. ​“We encourage them to put to paper what they would like to see, to put that fourth and we will begin.”

Fair Haven Heights Alder Rosa Ferraro-Santana made her concerns plain: That she doesn’t trust Matteson’s ability to be non-political in his new role, because he served as chief of staff in the DeStefano administration. These concerns by several alders that tanked the first attempt at appointing Matteson.

“I did not support you the first time, and I’m going tell you honestly, you and I have a history and you know why,” Santana said. ​“I want to know for me and my colleagues [the question is] if you are staying to enter a political realm to oust colleagues in what you’re gaming or are you strictly going to do your job. Because I think theoretically you have done a very good job.”

Matteson said he understands that his role is not a political one. He said he has not engaged and has no plans to engage in any politics around aldermanic races.

Department Heads Weigh In

The acting CAO got a boost at the hearing from department heads who report to him. They sang his praises to alders as someone who is helping to break logjams on stalled projects and overall helping them to find efficiencies.

Rick Fontana, city director of emergency management, said that Matteson has been able to understand so much of what the New Haven is facing in a short time.

“I would get in a fox hole with Sean anytime and come out alive and a winner,” Fontana said. 

Deputy CAO Maggie Targove, who has now worked for five different CAOs, said Matteson ​“has taken this position to a higher level” because of his diligence, his ability to form relationships and establish transparency. She said since Matteson has been on the job, a new electronic citywide licensing program that will be available to the public has been implemented, a new process is being implemented for city fleet management, and new process and policy around events is also underway. Additionally, SeeClickFix has been revamped for better use during city sweeps and the establishment of a weekly meeting with the police department is reducing overtime.

City Engineer Giovanni Zinn said he understands that ​“most would view with some skepticism someone who says, ​‘Hey, my boss is awesome,’” but he said he wouldn’t testify in support of Matteson if he didn’t think he was good at the job. Zinn said Matteson has helped him and parks department head Rebecca Bombero figure out a way to address sidewalks and much-needed tree removals that is much more coordinated.

“He has us all pulling together in the same direction,” he said.

On it went with the fire and police chiefs, three members of the public and Fair Haven Alder Jose Crespo.

Santana said at the end of the hearing that she was pleased with Matteson’s commitment to not being political if he is appointed the permanent CAO. She also was pleased with what she heard from department heads and will vote Matteson.