LITCHFIELD — Deputy Town Manager Kelly Weissenfels said his first few weeks this summer as Litchfield’s acting town manager were hectic.
“There were several new hires and a lot of things going on,” he said, adding that July’s elections were also looming. “I worked a few weekends those first few weeks.”
Since then, Weissenfels, who worked at the Town Office for three years before being promoted, has settled into the position, earning praise from members of the Select Board for his work.
“He seems to have a good handle on what needs to be done,” Selectwoman Rayna Leibowitz said. “There are some things that are a learning curve for him, but he is handling that very well.”
In a recent issue of the town’s monthly newsletter, the Litchfield Sodalite, it was reported that longtime Town Manager Trudy Lamoreau had become ill in May. She has since been transferred to hospice care.
Leibowitz said she did not expect Lamoreau to return to her position.
Lamoreau was appointed town manager in 2014, after the previous town manager’s contract was terminated by the Select Board.
Weissenfels said Lamoreau was important to the function of the Town Office, with her 20 years of experience.
“She knows the people, she knows the processes, she has the history,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of people that have some of that (experience), but not at the level.”
Weissenfels said his first couple of weeks in the position were “very focused” as he learned his expanded duties.
“I had to find out how that worked,” he said of the duties Lamoreau performed.
Lamoreau handled a number of positions for the town, including town manager, acting town clerk, registrar of voters, tax collector, treasurer, welfare director, public access officer and deputy clerk.
Seven other town employees, including Weissenfels, handle four or more positions, according to town data. Five of those employees work part time.
Weissenfels said the office is set up so everyone can perform necessary functions, if one person is not available.
Weissenfels was appointed deputy town manager in June, after Lamoreau fell ill. The job change came with a $1,000 a week salary for Weissenfels, a 53-year-old Air Force retiree.
According to meeting minutes from June 22, other employees were given additional duties: Diana Larrabee was made office supervisor and motor vehicle agent, Misty Harvey was given warrant and invoicing duties and Debbie Boucher is handling inland fisheries tasks.
In recognition of the increased workload and performance, Weissenfels and Larrabee were given $2,000 bonuses, Harvey was given a $1,000 bonus and Boucher was given a $500 bonus.
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