Deep River names new town clerk, fills several board seats

The Deep River Board of Selectmen on March 2 accepted the retirement of Town Clerk Amy M. Winchell and appointed Paula Weglarz to take the office effective July 6, 2026. Weglarz will serve until the next municipal election in November 2027 after a 3-0 vote by the three-member board.

First Selectman Carol Jones announced the appointment during the meeting. Duane Gates moved the nomination and Cynthia Torres seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The board acknowledged Winchell's retirement but the transcript did not include extended remarks from Winchell.

In the same meeting the board approved two additional appointments. Jackie Calamari was appointed to the Board of Assessment Appeals to fill the Democratic seat through November 2027; Duane Gates moved the appointment, Cynthia Torres seconded and the vote was 3-0. The board also added an agenda item to appoint Lisa Berube Neubert to the Deep River Housing Authority, term to expire Feb. 1, 2031; that motion likewise passed 3-0 after a motion by Gates and a second from Torres.

The meeting minutes show the board tabled possible Firehouse Building Committee appointments until the next meeting and discussed the desire to balance committee expertise (for example building inspection, architecture and engineering) and to limit the number of active fire personnel serving on that committee.

Next steps: the town will administer the statutory and administrative tasks needed for the transition in the clerk’s office and will advertise any future vacancies as required. The transcript does not specify whether a swearing-in date for Weglarz was set.