The Board of Selectman recently appointed a new director of assessments and taxation and a new highway superintendent during a meeting.
RJ Scofield, Patch Staff
NEW CANAAN, CT — The Board of Selectman appointed Sebastian Caldarella as the town's new director of assessments and taxation and Charles Louis Boice as highway superintendent during a meeting Tuesday.
Human Resources Personnel Director Cheryl Jones said she and CFO Anne Kelly-Lenz spoke with Caldarella about filling an opening in the Tax Collector's Office, which is set to become available at the end of February.
Jones noted Caldarella has been with the town for over 20 years and runs a well-maintained office. He currently serves as assessor for the town of New Canaan.
"We would love to see him move in to taking over both offices," Jones said. "It is done around the state. We did check with legal to make sure that we met all requirements, and we do. We do also have a certified tax collector in the office, and we do have another one who is in the midst of being certified, so [Caldarella] will have a well-versed staff to support him in that role."
Selectman Stephen Karl commended Caldarella for his work ethic and noted he is "always toiling away" in his current position.
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"You are one of the hardest working guys we have, Sebi, and you really really do an amazing job," Karl said, "and the history of your office and the work you've done over the years has been amazing, so I have no doubt that you can handle another role, so thank you for stepping up."
First Selectman Dionna Carlson also spoke highly of Caldarella's work for the town.
"I've been in his office a few times in the last year, had a few exciting things with tax abatement," Carlson said, "and my very first thing in office was the new assessments, so that was so much fun."
The board also appointed Boice to the position of highway superintendent, a position vacated last year by Mose Saccary after 44 years with the Highway Department.
A town official noted during the meeting Boice recently served as an Operator 3 Crew Leader, which in essence acts as a second-in-command for the department.
Boice has been with the department since August 2017, first as an Operator 2 before moving into his current Operator 3 position.
The board previously appointed James Peck, an equipment operator and crew leader, to serve as interim superintendent during the transition period. He will now move back to his original position.
Both Caldarella and Boice's appointments were unanimous.