Council approves ordinance creating DPW financial manager position amid farewell to long-serving finance director

The City Council voted to create a Manager of Financial and Administrative Services position in the Department of Public Works to align pay and job title for a staff member who handles DPW finances; the ordinance passed on roll call 5–2.

Councilors said the position already exists in other departments and that the ordinance would allow an internal candidate who already performs the duties to receive comparable compensation. The council heard from a DPW representative that DPW manages roughly $15,000,000 in budgeted programs and multiple grant and capital accounts, and the new position is intended to provide parity across departments.

The council’s roll-call vote recorded five yes votes and two no votes: Councilors Reyes, Santiago, LaPlante, Levy and Council President Rodriguez voted yes; Councilors Del Rosario and Luzon voted no; Councilor Marmol was absent. The motion carried.

The meeting also included a lengthy tribute to outgoing Finance Director Michael Iannello (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Iannello). Councilors credited Iannello with stabilizing the city’s finances during a period of fiscal stress, securing ARPA and other funding streams to support school additions and police station work, and leaving the city with substantial reserves. Iannello told the council he is retiring and said he expects to be available as needed in an advisory role.

Key clarifying details presented in the meeting: councilors cited a DPW budget figure of about $15,000,000; council members said the city’s free-cash balance was around $15,000,000 (a figure referenced in debate) and that reserve funds exceed $50,000,000, with about $13,000,000 in excess levy capacity.

Why it matters: The ordinance formalizes an internal classification and pay parity measure in DPW; it also comes as the city’s long-serving finance director departs, a change councilors said arrives with the city in stronger fiscal condition.