CROMWELL - The Town Council has voted last Wednesday night to grant Town Manager Tony Salvatore a 2-year contract extension �" with a raise �" but a couple of members raised objections.

       The vote �" a 3-2 tally, with Republican Councilor Pat Ahlquist abstaining �" split the Council along party lines with Democrats James Demetriades and Al Waters challenging the extension and 2.35 percent wage adjustment.

       “I don’t think it’s fundamentally right, in an election year, that we’re making a decision for the next two Councils,” Demetriades said over the phone. “I just question whether it’s our call to make.”

       According to the letter of Salvatore’s contract �" which mandates that he receive a performance evaluation every year �" it is, contends GOP Mayor Enzo Faienza.

       Salvatore’s 2015 employment agreement, which was provided to The Rare Reminder by the Town Manager’s Office, ties mandatory annual performance reviews to future pay raises and contract extensions.

       “The review is based, every year, on a set of goals and objectives,” Faienza said over the phone.

       Those objectives included lean budgeting, economic development momentum, maintaining services, and leading the Town and its departments through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayor said.

       The past several years have seen the town’s Mill Rate hold flat, with new commercial activity including the arrival of the Amazon fulfillment center on Countyline Drive.

       Town Hall, meanwhile, remained active throughout the pandemic.

       “It was unanimous that he should receive a positive review,” Faienza said.

       Demetriades doesn’t dispute that part.

       “I think he’s done a fine job, but I don’t think giving a contract extension and a raise every time there’s a performance review is appropriate,” he said. “Each Council is elected to decide the direction they want to go in, and by taking that ability away, you’re taking that ability away from the voters.”

       “I respectfully disagree with that,” Faienza said. “No matter what, the Town Manager has to work with the councils. He’s been an asset �" you want to keep that person around. Make sure that they have an opportunity to continue. It’s not really fair to leave a person in limbo.”

       The Council granted Salvatore a 2.35 percent raise last year as well. The recent extension �" two years, added to the 2022 expiration date set in 2020’s performance review �" is until August of 2024.

       Faienza said that the 2.35 percent �" a cost of living adjustment equal to department head wage adjustments �" simply keeps Cromwell competitive with other municipalities.

       The Mayor said the goal was to maintain some compensatory separation between the Town Manager role and the next highest paid department head.

       Salvatore, a former Cromwell Police Chief who took the Town Hall helm 8 years ago, will be making just over $157,000, after the adjustment.

       “I thank the Council for the positive endorsement on the evaluation,” Salvatore said in a phone conversation. “I specifically want to thank those that voted in favor of the extension and the wage adjustment.”

       He says he feels it’s appropriate for the current Council to conduct the evaluation.

       “My goals and objectives were set by this council, it should be this council that evaluates me,” Salvatore said. “My record is what it is, and I’ll stand on that.”

       Councilor Waters didn’t dispute the merits of Salvatore’s record either �" his issue was one that he’s raised during past evaluation cycles.

       “Tony has experience, by in the real world, people don’t get all these big raises without increasing their education year to year,” Waters said over the phone.

       Waters says he’s talking specifically about business and finance degree attainment.

       But while Section 3.01 of the Town Charter states that the Town Manager should be “appointed solely on the basis of executive and administrative qualifications, character, education, professional training, and experience”, it doesn’t get more specific than that.

       “Honestly, I don’t know what else to say other than I did 23 and a half years as Police Chief,” Salvatore said. “Look at what we’ve done, with the economic development, keeping the Mill Rate at the same level, the rebuilding and paving of 30 miles of roads, bringing the Library refurbishing to fruition, and bringing a modern facility to our Highway Department. This is a team effort, and I have a really good team of employees working with me, but I think I’ve met my goals put before me by the Councils.”

       Waters concurred with the latter sentiment �" he pointed to the addition of a part-time HR coordinator, who he says has allowed Salvatore to “delegate” some of his related duties.

       “That person’s taken a lot of work and pressure off of Tony’s desk,” Waters said.

       “HR responsibilities still rest with the Town Manager,” Salvatore says. “I have an excellent person helping me in that area, part time, but these issues are getting a lot more complex, with legislation that changes yearly, so we’re doing a lot more training.”