www.HartfordBusiness.com • October 9, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 3
Newsmakers
EDITORIAL
Greg Bordonaro | Editor, ext. 139, gbordonaro@HartfordBusiness.com
Gregory Seay | News Editor, ext. 144, gseay@HartfordBusiness.com
Matt Pilon | News Editor, ext. 143, mpilon@HartfordBusiness.com
John Stearns | Staff Writer, ext. 145, jstearns@HartfordBusiness.com
Patricia Daddona | Web Editor, ext. 127, pdaddona@HartfordBusiness.com
Stephanie Meagher | Research Director
Heide Martin | Research Assistant
Steve Laschever | Photographer
BUSINESS
Joe Zwiebel | President and Publisher, ext. 132, jzwiebel@HartfordBusiness.com
Donna Collins | Associate Publisher, ext. 121, dcollins@HartfordBusiness.com
Allison Williams | Office & Sales Coordinator, ext. 122, awilliams@HartfordBusiness.com
Amy Orsini | Events Manager, ext. 134, aorsini@HartfordBusiness.com
Jaime Rudy | Sales Director, ext. 124, jrudy@HartfordBusiness.com
David Hartley | Sr. Accounts Manager, ext. 130, dhartley@HartfordBusiness.com
Christopher Mazzaia | Sr. Accounts Manager, ext. 128, cmazzaia@HartfordBusiness.com
Kristen P. Nickerson | Sr. Accounts Manager, ext. 133, knickerson@HartfordBusiness.com
Karen Spatafora | Accounts Manager, ext. 131, kspatafora@HartfordBusiness.com
Raki Zwiebel | Credit and Collections Manager
Valerie Clark | Accounting Assistant/Office Manager
Kim Vautour | HR Director
PRODUCTION
Christopher Wallace | Art Director, ext. 147, cwallace@HartfordBusiness.com
Liz Saltzman | Creative Director, ext. 140, lsaltzman@HartfordBusiness.com
Peter Stanton | CEO, pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com
Joseph Zwiebel | President, ext. 132, jzwiebel@HartfordBusiness.com
Mary Rogers | COO/CFO, mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
Annual subscriptions are $84.95. To subscribe, visit HartfordBusiness.com,
email hartfordbusiness@cambeywest.com, or call (845) 267-3008.
ADVERTISING:
For advertising information, please call (860) 236-9998.Please address all correspondence to:
Hartford Business Journal, 15 Lewis Street, Suite 200, Hart ford CT 06103.
NEWS DEPARTMENT:
If you have a news item: Call us at (860) 236-9998, fax us at (860) 570-2493,
or e-mail us at news@HartfordBusiness.com.
Hartford Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts
or materials and in general does not return them to the sender.
Hartford Business Journal (ISSN 1083-5245) is published weekly, 49x per year — including
three special issues in July, November and December — by new England Business Media, LLC,
15 Lewis Street, Suite 200, Hartford, CT 06103. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and at
additional entry points.
Tel: (860) 236-9998 • Fax (860) 570-2493
Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.
Postmaster:
Please send address changes to:
Hartford Business Journal
P.O. Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894
www.copyright.com
HARTFORD
BUSINESS JOURNAL
www.HartfordBusiness.com
(860) 236-9998
Matthew Hart | West Hartford town manager
By John Stearns
jstearns@HartfordBusiness.com
Matthew Hart became West Hartford town manager
July 31, a significant position in a top-tier town known
for sound management, quality schools, reputable
restaurants, and a thriving town center and Blue Back
Square. He replaced Ron Van Winkle, who retired after
nine years in the role.
Hart, who oversees a $280 million budget and 440 full-
time equivalent employees, says his biggest opportunity
is positioning West Hartford (affectionately shortened
to WeHa, which fits nicely on car magnets) for continued
success and maintaining residents' "great quality of life."
He came to WeHa after 11 years as Mansfield town man-
ager and said the issues are surprisingly similar: budget
and finance, community and economic development, hu-
man resources and labor relations, and public safety.
Hart was attracted to the WeHa job by the opportu-
nity to manage a government serving what he called
"Connecticut's premier community."
When he's not stressing over budgets or other mat-
ters of state, he can settle his stomach with great food.
His favorite restaurants: Treva and Park & Oak.
What's the biggest challenge you face in your new job?
Developing a short- and long-term budget strategy
with state revenue remaining volatile and uncertain.
What's the biggest challenge facing the town?
Budget and affordability. How can we maintain
high service levels at a competitive effective tax rate,
especially if we stand to lose significant state revenue?
Municipalities in Connecticut rely on property taxes
and state formulary grants; we don't have the revenue
diversity available to local governments in other states.
What's the biggest opportunity facing the town?
We have the opportunity redevelop key parcels and
areas — such as the former UConn campus, West
Hartford Center and the New Park corridor — in a
sustainable manner. Given our density and location, we
also have the opportunity to promote public transit and
other commuting alternatives, diversify our housing
stock, and to work with area municipalities to share
resources more effectively and efficiently.
Tell us something about you many people don't know.
I'm very plugged into my profession. I'm joining the
board of directors for the International City/County
Management Association, and am a member of the
Connecticut Town & City Management Association and
League of Women in Government (yes, men can join!).
I'm passionate about leadership and organizational
development, sustainability and financial management.
And, I love the outdoors — hiking, cross-country skiing,
and cycling in particular.
'You're fired,' again
"Centerplan should never have
been chosen to build the ballpark,
and their lack of capacity and
experience was compounded by a
lack of honesty and transparency."
Mayor Luke Bronin's reaction
last week after he fired
Middletown-based Centerplan,
DoNo Hartford LLC, and the associated entities
created to develop the land in and around Dunkin'
Donuts Park.
Population preservation
"What Connecticut needs to do
is to keep attracting immigrants
from other parts of the world.
New York City would have lost
population if it were not for
immigrants."
Brookings Institution
demographer William Frey
on what Connecticut must do to stem its population
decline.
VERBATIM
GREEN SOLUTIONS…ONE SOURCE
The company that builds and installs the critical systems in virtually every type of facility
is the same company you can rely on to maintain them. For over 50 years, our clients have trusted
us to provide sustainable, more efficient, greener facilities.
We are experts in:
Energy Systems & Incentives
Building Automation Technologies
Sustainable Design & Operation
860.871.1111 Toll Free: 800.741.6367 nemsi.com
License #'s: E1-104939 • S1-302974 • P1-203519 • F1-10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134
MECHANICAL • ELECTRICAL • PLUMBING • SHEET METAL • BUILDING AUTOMATION • FACILITIES SERVICES
HBJ
PHOTO
|
JOHN
STEARNS
