Tag Archives: Westport operations director

Dewey Loselle’s New Post: Town Operations Director

First Selectman Jim Marpe has named Dewey Loselle to the new position of operations director for the town of Westport. Loselle’s current post in the Marpe administration is chair of the Downtown Steering Committee.

Dewey Loselle

Dewey Loselle

A bipartisan search committee made the recommendation.The group was led by Pete Wolgast, former executive assistant to First Selectman Doug Wood. Wolgast said, “the high quality of applicants for this opening was amazing. As it turned out, Dewey has all of the experience and ability to be an outstanding success in his new role. I am certain that he will be a huge benefit to the First Selectman in his goal of improving the operations of Westport’s town government.”

Search committee member and former Board of Education chair Don O’Day added, “I was very impressed with all of the candidates and the decision on whom to recommend was not easy … We chose Dewey based on his very impressive resume, his considerable knowledge of Westport’s governing structure, and his recent work leading the Downtown Steering Committee. He has shown he can get things done while reaching out to as many people as possible.”

Loselle has over 30 years of experience in local and state government, including division chief for the New York City comptroller evaluating programs and agencies, NYC assistant commissioner for budget and finance in NYC, a government consulting principal/partner, and on the Westport RTM. He has conducted over 100 consulting engagements with state and local governments helping improve performance and functionality.

Loselle has served as a consultant for the state of Connecticut, and municipalities such as Greenwich and Stamford.  He was a member of Governor William O’Neill’s Thomas Commission, which studied ways to make state government more effective and efficient.

Loselle’s educational background includes a BA in government (magna cum laude) from Boston University, and a masters in public administration from New York University (with concentrations in public policy and finance).

Wanted: Town Operations Director

The “help wanted” sign is out at Town Hall. Westport is looking for its 1st-ever operations manager.

A press release says the new guy (or gal) will report directly to the 1st selectman. He (or she) “will work with all Town departments to achieve operational efficiency, improve government effectiveness, enhance and expand communications, develop strategies to accomplish disaster recovery objectives, and seek out and develop economic development opportunities.”

Westport sealCandidates must have “considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of municipal administration; knowledge of public personnel and finance methods and procedures; ability to perform research and prepare technical reports on all aspects of municipal government operations; and knowledge of Emergency Management methods and procedures.”

An MBA, masters in public administration or a closely related field, and 5 years of “progressively responsible municipal experience, or any equivalent combination of education and experience,”  is preferred.  Candidates should also have a “strong knowledge of Westport and town government operations.”

A 5-person committee will interview candidates, and make a recommendation to 1st selectman Jim Marpe. The chair is Pete Wolgast, former 1st selectman executive assistant. Other members include Westport personnel director Ralph Chetcuti, communications specialist Karen Hess, former Board of Education chair Don O’Day, and senior corporate executive Steve Parrish.

Marpe calls the operations director “an extremely important member of my team, whose work will directly benefit the town of Westport and its residents.”

For more information or to apply, email personnel@westportct.gov, or go to Room 208 of Town Hall. The application deadline is May 20.