Essex Annual Report Dedicated to Longtime Public Servants
The Essex Board of Finance’s 2015-2016 Annual Report was dedicated to three longterm former municipal servants, Robert Dixon, Frances Nolin, and Nancy Stadalnik. Dixon served as the town’s treasurer from 2002 to 2013, Nolan was the town clerk from 2000 to 2014, and Stadalnik served as Essex’s tax collector from 1987 to 2009.
After serving in the Air Force, Dixon finished degrees at Syracuse University and New York University Graduate School. He worked for multiple public companies before moving to Essex in 1993 and forming his own financial consulting firm in 2001. As the town treasurer he was responsible for automating the financial systems. Soon to be celebrating 47 years of marriage to his wife Ann, he has two children, Alexander and Kathryn, and three grandchildren.
Originally of Deep River and a graduate of Valley Regional High School, Nolin was hired as assistant town clerk in 1998. She ran for the office of town clerk in 1999. During her term, shelving in the vault was replaced, and land records and survey maps were digitized for public use. Nolin also implemented an intern program with Valley Regional High School to allow students to learn about municipal functionality. She opted not to run for reelection in 2013.
Stadalnik grew up in Deep River and settled with David, her husband of 51 years, in Ivoryton in 1971. They raised three children in town, Brian, Susan, and Cindy. She also spent years volunteering as a softball coach, Girls Scout leader, and room mother. In the tax office, Stadalnik was well-known for her positivity and friendly disposition. She retired after 22 years.
“We’re very happy to have had three outstanding employees of the town who worked and volunteered in many areas,” said Chairman of the Board of Finance Keith Crehan.
“I’m very flattered,” said Dixon. “I’ve been an ex-CFO of public companies and it isinteresting to be treasurer. I left $2.4 million in reserve and now I’m retired for the second time around. It feels good.”
“One of the wonderful things about Essex is when we get you we keep you,” said First Selectman Norm Needleman. “We’re so grateful to have people so dedicated.
“If you go back through the history of the [Annual report] dedication, it recognizes people who have been of service to the town. There is a wide array of honorees, people who have served in many different ways,” continued Needleman.
After the dedication, the annual town meeting was held quickly. Business included accepting the statement of town accounts, the report of the town treasurer, and the report of the superintendent of schools, as printed in the 2015-2016 Annual Town Report. After a movement to consolidate the nominations of all appointments to town boards and positions into a single vote, all appointments for terms beginning Dec. 1 were resolved. There were no new appointments from the previous term.
The full list of resolved appointments is as follows:
Jeffrey Lovelace as a regular member to the Conservation Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Frank Hall as a regular member to the Conservation Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Janet Peckinpaugh as a regular member to the Economic Development Commission, from Dec. 1 2016 to Dec. 1 2018
Edward Cook as a regular member to the Economic Development Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2018
George Sexton as a regular member to the Economic Development Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2018
David Winstead as a regular member to the Economic Development Commission from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2018
Jeffrey Going as a regular member to the Harbor Management Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Joseph Zaraschi as a regular member to the Harbor Management Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Earl Fowler as an alternate member to the Harbor Management Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Stephen Knauth as a regular member to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Jim Hill as a regular member to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Daniel Lapman as a regular member to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Andre Roussel as an alternate member to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Virginia Willets as a regular member to the Park & Recreation Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
William Timothy Furgueson as a regular member to the Zoning Board of Appeals, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Ward Feirer a regular member to the Zoning Board of Appeals, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Jim Hill as a regular member to the Zoning Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Jeffrey Lovelace an alternate member to the Zoning Commission, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Susan Malan as a regular member to the Water Pollution Control Authority, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Mark Reeves as a regular member to the Water Pollution Control Authority, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Alvin Wolfgram as an alternate member to the Water Pollution Control Authority, from Dec. 1, 2016 to Dec. 1, 2019
Claire Matthews as a regular member to the Connecticut River Gateway Commission, from Nov. 21, 2016 to Sept. 1, 2018
Jerri MacMillian as an alternate member to the Connecticut River Gateway Commission, from Nov. 21, 2016 to September 1, 2018.