WINSTED - Suddenly, the land use office lacks a building inspector and a town planner - again.
For the third time in less than three years, the building official is resigning to take another job elsewhere. Town Planner Lance Hansen, who was hired in October 2022, unexpectedly submitted his letter of resignation Friday.
Town Manager Paul Harrington said building official Agostino Roma, who was hired in February, has accepted an offer that will make him an assistant building official in another municipality but did not say where. His last day here is Dec. 31.
Meanwhile, Harrington said while the "timing" of Hansen's letter was unexpected, Hansen has not been in his office since Dec. 5, using a combination of sick leave and vacation days.
"I'm currently working with his union representatives to schedule a meeting to address several outstanding matters," Harrington said. "Despite his resignation, I plan to proceed with this meeting to ensure we properly close out any remaining administrative items."
When asked whether Hansen's resignation was effective immediately, Harrington said, "I'm reading it that way, but I've reached out for clarification."
Hansen's terse one-sentence letter does not state when his resignation is effective or give any reason for his departure. Hansen could not be reached for comment.
Regardless, Harrington said the search for a new planner will begin immediately.
"With Winsted's current momentum and growth trajectory, this role is more critical than ever," Harrington said. "In fact, just today (Friday) I met with a developer exploring a 92,000-square-foot retail development project. We're open for business and we need the right planning expertise to manage our expanding opportunities."
Harrington said Norfolk Planner James Clarke once again will fill in to sign off on permits and plans until the town has a new building inspector who is certified. He filled in until Roma was certified by the state a few months ago.
The building official position is posted. But if the town wants to hire another building official that is not certified, Harrington said he intends to negotiate that the official's contract include either a commitment to working for the town for a certain period of time or a reimbursement to the town for the training he or she receives from the state that the town pays.
"I think that would be fair," he told the selectmen last Monday. "I don't see why anyone would be against that, but this is now, I believe, the second building inspector we've gone through in a very short period of time. They seem to get certified and then they go off to another town. We have to stop that from happening and I think this is one way of doing that."