NEWINGTON - The Town Council has tapped Newington’s Town Clerk to serve as Acting Town Manager, with a search committee seeking candidates for current chief administrator Keith Chapman’s permanent replacement.

       Town Clerk James Krupienski’s appointment -- good for 90 days, unless the Council opts to renew it -- was approved last night by a 7-0 Council vote, with Councilmembers Mike Camillo and Sharon Braverman absent.

       Chapman’s resignation takes effect December 2 -- Krupienski, who was hired as Town Clerk in 2016, will become Acting Town Manager at 12 a.m. on December 3.

       “I’m confident Mr. Krupienski will serve us well and I’m looking forward to that,” said Mayor Beth DelBuono.

       So were Newington residents, who sounded off on social media to offer their congratulations.

       “I’m happy to help out the Town of Newington in any way that I can, and the public’s support is encouraging,” Krupienski said over the phone the next morning. “I’m excited -- this is a new chapter in my life.”

       One resident said that she hopes to see Krupienski take the permanent role. The Town Clerk, who’s been a municipal employee at some level or another since 2001 -- he worked in Vernon and South Windsor before his Newington tenure -- says he’ll be throwing his hat in the ring.

       “It may or may not be me, but I will apply for it and see where I get in the process,” Krupienski said.

       The Council formed a town manager search committee on October 25 -- with the intention of launching a nationwide recruitment effort -- and they may bring on an executive talent procurement firm to help facilitate.

       While the Town Charter puts a 90-day limit on acting town manager appointments, it allows the Council to extend it.

       “After 90 days, if the council has not finished the search, which we may not be able to do in that amount of time, it would be up to the town council to come back again and make another appointment for 90 days -- it could be that person or another person,” DelBuono said during the meeting.

       Chapman, a former Newington town manager who retired more than 20 years ago, returned on an interim basis in 2020, after the dismissal of former chief administrator Tanya Lane.

       Chapman was later appointed to the permanent position.

       He announced on September 30 that he would step down -- the Council formally accepted his resignation at the October 25 meeting.

       “It’s gonna be with regret, but I’m gonna vote to accept this. I have to support his wishes and decision,” Deputy Mayor Budrejko said that night.

       “This is one I’m approaching with a bit of a heavy heart. Mr. Chapman, you started with us with the idea of a six-month interim role, and you ended up staying on with us,” DelBuono said. “I think you’ve done an amazing job for the town of Newington. I’m thankful for your out of the box thinking and you’ve clearly instilled that in your staff. They’re clearly coming up with innovative ways to get things done.”

       Councilors praised Chapman for his work on economic development, well as his fiscal management -- the town has seen three consecutive Mill Rate decreases and $300 million in new investments since 2020.

       Councilor Tim Manke thanked him for his leadership throughout the pandemic.

       “You considered the safety of the citizens and the staff under your leadership and still tried to provide the services to the town,” Manke said. “You kept us moving forward and functioning, and that’s important.”

       Now the role falls to Krupienski, who began his career in 2001 as a building department assistant in Vernon. Throughout his Vernon tenure, he served as town manager’s office assistant, and eventually, Assistant Town Clerk.

       He became Deputy Town Clerk in South Windsor in 2010.

       “It’s been quite a ride,” Krupienski said.

       He says he could see himself in a town manager position as far back as his time in Vernon -- but that it wasn’t the right time to pursue it, with two young children to raise.

       The Council approached him about an acting town manager role when Chapman expressed intentions to resign this past summer -- plans that were later walked back.

       Now, with Chapman’s December 2 departure looming, Krupienski says he’s ready to take the helm.

       “My children are older. I’ve taken a lot of roles in town government,” Krupienski said. “My job is always interesting, which is what I love about it, and I think being in this role, I’ll see other facets of the town.”