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Clinton Appoints Interim Zoning Officer

Following the departure of its fulltime zoning enforcement officer (ZEO), the town has appointed Mike D’Amato as an interim ZEO. The appointment was approved at a joint special meeting attended by members of the Board of Selectmen (BOS), Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC), Inland Wetlands Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals on April 1.

Typically, a ZEO works to provide enforcement on zoning and wetlands issues, as well as make regular reports to the PZC and Inland Wetlands Commission. However, as interim ZEO, D’Amato will not attend the PZC meetings, but instead focus on processing application, working on enforcement issues, and meeting with the public during his office hours.

D’Amato will receive $4,000 a month for his services.

D’Amato’s hiring was approved at a BOS meeting on April 3; final approval was still needed from the Board of Finance for him to start in the role. First Selectman Christine Goupil and Selectman Carol Walter both praised his qualifications. D’Amato works for CME Associates, who has been working with the PZC on a consulting basis for several years.

D’Amato will work one eight-hour day per week. Goupil said that D’Amato will hold the position until the fulltime position is filled.

D’Amato “will provide an immediate, hit-the-ground-running professional in the ZEO role,” Goupil said. “Mike D’Amato will be able to train and transition a new permanent staffer in this position at the appropriate time.”

The town’s former ZEO and Wetlands Enforcement Officer David Leiper resigned from his job last month. Leiper, who declined to comment for this story, was hired in November 2018.

Following Leiper’s resignation, the town now has an interim ZEO, interim finance director, and an interim public works director, as well as openings in other offices. However, Goupil said the fact that there are several interim positions is not a large concern.

“The interim status allows existing employees the opportunity to move into roles while we fill the open position,” Goupil said.

“More and more municipal and state governments are finding it difficult to attract talented, experienced employees. The same skill sets are typically rewarded at a much higher rate in the private sector,” Goupil said. “Unless an individual has a real sense of public service and a commitment to civic duty, they do not seek government jobs. Clinton is not unique.”