SOUTHINGTON — The City Council welcomed the return of James Bowes because the city’s finance director following the retirement of Emilia Portelinha in June.
Portelinha has agreed to assist with the transition. Bowes, who lives in Southington, spent 17 years as comptroller in Wallingford earlier than his retirement in Could 2021. Previous to that, he was finance director in Southington.
“Jim Bowes was by far the perfect candidate that we interviewed for the place, and I really feel that he’ll have the ability to, nearly seamlessly, carry out the duties of finance director,” City Supervisor Mark Sciota stated throughout Monday night time’s council assembly. “He’s very acquainted with our processes in Southington and is getting up to the mark with the adjustments which have been carried out since he left.”
As Wallingford’s comptroller, Bowes managed the finance, tax assortment, assessor and buying departments. He additionally served because the chief monetary officer for the Division of Public Utilities and was a member of the Pension Fee.
When Bowes began in Wallingford, the finance division had 35 staff. Since then, with higher coaching and upgraded expertise, the workforce has been lowered by about 23 p.c.
“Having these of us higher skilled and including some extra technical parts has definitely helped us scale back our manpower,” Bowes instructed the Report-Journal on the time. “I do take delight in that truth.”
When Bowes retired, Wallingford Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. praised his “conscientious method” and known as him “a terrific instance of data (and) professionalism.”
Bowes is now studying the technological and different adjustments which have been made since he left Southington’s Finance Division. The division is answerable for accounting, budgeting, fiscal planning and reporting of the city’s monetary actions.
“I stay up for working with what up to now appears to be a terrific employees,” Bowes instructed councilors on Monday. “Looks as if it’s going to be an excellent constructive expertise. Hopefully we’ll preserve this city a terrific place. I’ve known as this city house for the previous 20 years. We’re going to do our greatest.”
Sciota instructed councilors and the general public that he had working relationship with Bowes in the course of the 12 years he labored for the city earlier than leaving for Wallingford. Council Chairwoman Victoria Triano agreed.
“You distinguished your self the primary time,” Triano stated. “Hopefully it could actually solely go up from there.”
Throughout the assembly, city officers additionally stated goodbye to Fireplace Chief James Paul Jr., who’s retiring.
“I labored with an exquisite crew,” Paul stated. “Now I can sit again and watch the division go ahead. I imagine I introduced the division ahead and I’m excited to see the place it goes.”
Paul, an Air Drive veteran, started his profession in Southington in 1993. He labored his means as much as battalion chief and in 2018 was chosen as assistant fireplace chief and fireplace marshal.
Paul, appointed chief final March, is retiring for household causes. He drew excessive reward from city leaders.
“We’re disillusioned the chief’s leaving however household comes first,” Mark Lajoie, chairman of the Board of Fireplace Commissioners, instructed the Report-Journal in July.
In different enterprise, the council heard there could also be adjustments to the situation and dimension of the proposed library challenge. The builder will define choices and specs to the Library Constructing Committee on Sept. 28.
The City Council additionally acquired an replace on the formation of a Honest Hire Fee mandated by state statute. An out of doors legal professional has been consulted on forming the fee. Extra particulars in regards to the scope of the fee, its make-up and ethics guidelines will likely be forthcoming.
mgodin@record-journal.com203-317-2255Twitter: @Cconnbiz
