New Town Manager to Receive $149,000 Salary

Garrison C. Brumback, the newly hired town manager, will receive  $149,000 in base pay and could receive up to $15,000 for reimbursement of moving expenses, members of the Southington Town Council confirmed Tuesday.

The base salary is considerably larger than the $117,000 annual salary paid to 44-year veteran John Weichsel, and town officials, including Democratic Councilman Anthony D'Angelo, expressed concern that the figure is too high.

"We don't know all the details yet but the starting pay will be as high as $149,000, not including benefits," said D'Angelo. "Last night there were a lot of people upset that Mark (Sciota) wasn't selected and rightfully so, but to add a cost like that on top of it? It's concerning."

Details of the contract have not been finalized but the town expects to get all signatures within the next few days, said Council Chairman Edward Pocock III.

"I can't confirm or deny anything until there is a hard signature on the contract. There should be no talk before anything is set in stone," Pocock said.

Although several other council members declined comment for this article, they did confirm that the salary would be $149,000 when given the figure.

When the council first began its search, members had arranged to pay whatever candidate was selected between $125,000 and $150,000 according to Pocock.

Although Brumback will receive considerably more than Weichsel was making, it is a pay cut for the military veteran and ten-year city administrator, who is walking away from a salary in the mid $150,000's range, according to Mayor Stephen DonCarlos of Baytown, Texas, where Brumback has spent the last three and a half years.

"Garry (Brumback) earned his salary here. We were never hit by the economy like many other towns and he was a big part of the reason why," DonCarlos said. "We have always had the benefit of the oil industry, but he brought in dozens of retailers and restaurants just in the past year alone."

The salary figure isn't the only thing bothering D'Angelo and other Democrats, however. They were concerned by comments made by several Republican council members Monday that both Weichsel and Brumback would be employed during the month of February.

D'Angelo said he would prefer to see the town let Weichsel retire on Feb. 1, just one day after Brumback is scheduled to begin working with the town. He said Deputy Town Manager Mark Sciota knows the operations and could help with the transition.

Sciota confirmed Tuesday that he had spoken with Brumback and planned to stay on staff as the deputy town manager.

Pocock said that Weichsel would retire "no later than Feb. 28" but that he would remain on as needed in order to help make a smoother transition. He said Weichsel's retirement would not have any significant effect because his pay and benefits are based on the fiscal year.

Weichsel does not have a set contract, Pocock said, and would receive his vacation time in the form of pay after retirement, regardless. He does not receive any considerable vacation time at the start of 2011, Pocock said.

The process had been delayed by a thorough background check on all three finalists, Pocock said. The police department worked diligently to help with the background checks but the process took several weeks and results weren't returned until Dec. 17.