Weichsel's Last Day as Acting Town Manager is May 2

The East Hampton Town Council announced on Tuesday night that Acting Town Manager John Weichsel’s term will end on May 2.

Weichsel, who came out of retirement after 44 years as Southington’s Town Manager, began his current role one year ago, signing a one-year contract.

Town Council Chairwoman Sue Weintraub said Finance Director Jeff Jylkka will take over as acting town manager until a new town manager is in place.

The council is moving ever so closer to deciding on a town manager. After the regular meeting Tuesday night, the council met in executive session to discuss the search further and “see if we can come up with a candidate we’d like to bring forward to the town,” Weintraub said.

The town also has agreed to hire an employment attorney and has reached out to the law firm of Murtha Cullina.

Weichsel summarized the town’s accomplishments during his time in office, which was interrupted by a major medical problem. It was bringing up his medical leave that Weichsel allowed some emotion to show, saying most councils would have told him to hit the road.

“You people stuck with me and I will always, always remember that,” he said, “and I appreciate it.”

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Weintraub  thanked him for making the town a better place.

“John is a professional,” Weintraub said. “He brought neutrality to the council table. He didn’t side with any party or any individual. He was here to do his job and help us with our policies and our decision making. He did an outstanding job in a very trying time in our community.”

Weichsel retired in January 2011 as Southington’s town manager. He had been on the job since October 1966 and was the only town manager Southington had since it first adopted a manager-council form of government earlier that year.

Retirement did not come easily, though.

Bob Drewry, who came out of retirement himself to fill the interim role created after Jeffrey O’Keefe resigned in September 2010, made it clear he did not want the position long term.

So, when the council began a search, Weichsel was one of 36 who applied for the position.

During public comments, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Kevin Reich said of Weichsel: “He was a pro and he worked extremely well with us and I can understand why the Town of Southington appreciated his many, many years of service.”