This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
11/01/2016 04:30 PMAfter interviewing two finalists, the boards of Selectmen and Finance unanimously agreed to appoint Donna Castracane of Guilford as the town’s new full-time finance director.
“She’s a great choice. We’re so excited,” said First Selectman Noel Bishop. “What stands out about Donna was that she started working for the City of Norwalk in 2000 as an internal auditor and she worked herself up to assistant director of management and budgets. She’s had a variety of responsibilities.”
Castracane replaces the former finance director Andrew Urban. Since his departure, Assistant Finance Director Carol Hess has served as acting finance director.
In the interview process, Bishop said that both boards placed high value on candidates’ communication skills and their proven ability to establish rapport with colleagues and with the public.
“Donna shined in that area,” said Bishop. “She is who we need right now.”
The Board of Selectmen put her salary for the full-time position at $80,000. This amount was, according to Bishop, within the salary range for this position for towns of similar size as recorded in a survey done by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.
“I really see this as a chance to broaden my experience and knowledge. I’m super excited and its a wonderful opportunity,” said Castracane after her appointment. “And it is closer to my home!”
Castracane plans to start her new job in Westbrook either on Monday, Nov. 28 or Monday, Dec. 5. The range is because she is trying to finish up key work assignments before leaving for the Westbrook post.
Castracane comes to the Westbrook finance director position from her current post as assistant director of management and budgets for the City of Norwalk, a position she has held since 2005. In that role, Castracane assisted with the development of the city’s annual operating, capital internal service, and enterprise fund budgets that total more than $400 million. She also oversaw the preparation of budget documents; these budget materials in turn have earned the Government Finance Officers’ Association Distinguished Budget Award since 2001.
The position also required her to work with department heads to manage their budgets and allocate resources appropriately.
While in her current post, Castracane also has been a member of the City of Norwalk’s Emergency Preparedness Task Force. Her responsibilities for this job included processing Federal Emergency Management Agency storm reimbursements to the City of Norwalk for any declared emergency and acting as financial liaison with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Castracane reported she helped the City of Norwalk recoup more than $5 million in storm damage and overtime costs.
Castracane has a masters degree in public administration.
Bishop said that the Town of Westbrook had received 16 résumés for the finance director opening. The screening committee identified four candidates in the pool to interview—one of those withdrew before the interview and the other did not show up for the interview.
The two finalists were interviewed in executive session by the boards of Finance and Selectmen. Castracane was selected as the preferred choice as was appointed by the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 20.