New assessor in place

1
138

NAUGATUCK — After winning the election in November, Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess made hiring a “first class, topnotch” assessor among his priorities. Borough officials believe they have found their woman.

The Board of Mayor and Burgesses on Jan. 21 unanimously approved a four-year contract with Carol Ann Tyler to be the borough’s new assessor.

“During the interview process everyone was extremely excited about her qualifications and her abilities,” Hess said of Tyler.

Tyler began working as the assessor Jan. 4 on a per diem basis. Her contract, which is retroactive to Jan. 4, runs through Jan. 3, 2020.

Under the agreement, Tyler will be paid $87,000 this year and her salary will increase $1,000 a year until 2020. The agreement states that Tyler must have a Certified Connecticut Municipal Assessor 1 license, which she currently possesses. If she lets her license lapse, according to the agreement, her salary would be cut by $5,000.

Under the agreement, Tyler is offered a high deductible health plan with a $2,000/$4,000 deductible.

The salary is more than $30,000 what former Assessor George Hlavacek was making. Hlavacek resigned in October amid concerns from officials on how he was running the department.

The board voted in November to increase the assessor’s salary in order to attract a more qualified candidate for the job.

Hess believes the borough achieved that by hiring Tyler.

“Everyone is happy and excited about her work. Morale is good. I think it’s a great hire for the borough of Naugatuck,” Hess said.

Tyler, who grew up in Ansonia, has worked as an assessor for the past 15 years. She began her career as an assistant assessor in Westbrook. In 2009, she became the assessor for East Hampton, where she worked until she accepted the job with the borough.

Although she has been with the borough for less than a month, Tyler said working in Naugatuck has been a great experience.

“It’s a great town. I really like it. I’m helped by everyone in here,” Tyler said.

Tyler said she has already started to work on the borough’s grand list and hopes to continue her work in the office for many years.

“I am looking forward to a long tenure with Naugatuck,” Tyler said.

1 COMMENT