The first selectman of Portland announced Wednesday on Facebook that he would resign the position on Jan. 1, to “to embark on the next chapter of my career.”
First Selectman Ryan J. Curley posted a full letter on the Portland Facebook page, addressed to the town’s residents, saying in part, “It is with a profound sense of gratitude and appreciation for the Portland community…. I will be resigning from my position as First Selectman effective January 1, 2025.”
Curley did not name his next career move but the minutes of a meeting of the Berlin Town Council show that they voted 7-0 Tuesday to hire Ryan J. Curley as town manager. That position would begin Jan. 2, the minutes report. The vote in public followed an executive, or closed door, discussion, the minutes say.
“Councilor Paonessa moved to appoint Ryan Curley to serve as Town Manager, approve the agreement between the Town of Berlin and Ryan Curley as Town Manager, and further move that Mayor Mark Kaczynski be authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of the Town of Berlin,” the minutes say.
An email seeking comment was sent to Curley.
“Serving these past thirteen years as Town Clerk, Selectman, and ultimately First Selectman has been the greatest honor of my life. Representing my hometown, a place that has given so much to me and my family, has been both a privilege and a joy,” he wrote.
Curley also noted that “together, we have accomplished great things. We’ve increased economic development, remediated brownfields, and invested in critical infrastructure projects like road repairs, sidewalk replacements, water line upgrades, a Senior Center renovation, and a new athletic track at the high school. We’ve also strengthened our community’s future by securing a new public water source.”
He noted there is always more work to be done, but said he is “confident that Portland is well-positioned for continued success. With exciting projects like Brainerd Place, the upcoming Nordic spa, and additional developments on the horizon, our town’s economic future is bright. Additionally, funding is in place for continued infrastructure projects throughout town.”
“None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the Board of Selectmen, our talented town employees, and our many dedicated volunteers. I am deeply grateful for their contributions,” Curley wrote.
Most importantly, he wrote, he wants “to thank the residents of Portland for placing your trust in me. It has been an honor to serve you. I look forward to continuing to serve our community in the coming weeks.”
Several town residents posted on Facebook after seeing Curley’s letter.
“Thank you for all you did for Portland. Best wishes with your new ventures. Safe and happy holiday wishes to you and yours,” one person wrote.
“Congratulations and thank you for your good work with Portland… Berlin is a great place to work and I wish you well!!!,” another person wrote.
The ambitious redevelopment of the former Elmcrest Psychiatric Hospital hit a snag last spring when residents balked at a proposal to add another 110 apartments while reducing the amount of new retail space they expected.
The zoning board in September endorsed developer Dan Bertram’s plan to substitute a four-story building of semi-independent living in place of 110 standard, market-rate apartments. The revision appeared to have answered two key objections from residents: The risk of higher traffic and an influx of school children.
“The vote was unanimous. This was huge,” Curley said at the time. “This is the biggest development Portland has ever seen. I’ve told the developer that his success is the town’s success.”
Originally Published: November 27, 2024 at 4:28 PM EST