Cromwell Council seats DeProto, creates HR director post with $109,000 salary ceiling

Town Council · Meeting of January 14, 2026

Cromwell Town Council unanimously appointed Jamin DeProto to fill a vacant council seat and voted to establish a director of human resources at pay scale E4, with a salary range of $77,000 to $109,000. DeProto, endorsed by the Republican Town Committee, cited prior service as Conservation Commission chair, Board of Finance member, and Harvard Medical School instructor before introducing himself to the dais, where he sat but could not vote pending a formal swearing-in. The HR director position was created under the new town charter approved by voters in November 2025; council member Al Waters warned the salary ceiling might not attract top candidates, noting nearby Berlin pays $125,000 for a comparable role, but the motion carried with one dissenting vote.

The council also accepted the resignation of council member Julia R. Gemma, approved a $14,700 federal bulletproof vest grant for the police department, and unanimously revised a November motion on outgoing Police Chief's sick-time payout to specify the 25 percent benefit was conditioned on his perfect attendance record. Mayor James Demetriades reported that the Connecticut Office of the Arts has asked Cromwell to split its proposed four-mile Main Street cultural district into two sub-districts, a recommendation the Cultural District Commission plans to contest at its January 20 meeting.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,370 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of January 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

CROMWELL — January 14, 2026 — The Cromwell Town Council unanimously appointed Jamin DeProto to fill a vacant council seat, approved a salary range for a new director of human resources, and heard an update on the town's application for state cultural district designation at its January 14 regular meeting.

The council also accepted three resignations, approved a bulletproof vest grant, recognized a retiring sewer department employee, and took a series of appointment and reappointment votes. The meeting opened with Mayor James Demetriades presiding.

The Full Story

The most immediately consequential personnel action of the evening was the appointment of Jamin DeProto to the Town Council to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Julia R. Gemma. DeProto, endorsed by the Republican Town Committee, introduced himself to the council and public, citing his background as a former instructor at Harvard Medical School, his ownership of Jefferson Fry Company in Cromwell, and prior service as chair of the Conservation Commission and on the Board of Finance. The council voted unanimously to seat him, though he could not formally vote at the meeting itself pending a swearing-in with the town clerk.

"It is absolute pleasure to be here. It's an honor and privilege to even been thought of and nominated for the role. I mean, it's the most important on this town government." [00:09:14] — Jamin DeProto, newly appointed Town Council member

Also accepted unanimously were the resignations of Lori Ullett and Faye Tine from the Community Events Committee, alongside Gemma's departure.

The council introduced Andrew Armstrong as the town's new director of planning and development. Armstrong noted he spent the last 14 years in planning and zoning, most recently running the site plan review team in Bristol, with prior experience in Newington, private consulting, and a land use law firm in Phoenix, Arizona.

"I want to be an advocate for our residents, a resource and an advocate for existing and new businesses." [00:05:58] — Andrew Armstrong, director of planning and development

The council then took up the creation of a director of human resources position, authorized under the new town charter that voters approved in November 2025 and which took effect January 1. The proposed salary scale, designated pay grade E4, carries a range of $77,000 to $109,000 annually. Town Manager Tony discussed comparable municipalities and noted the range aligns with other E4-level directors, including the library director and human services director. Council member Al Waters raised concern that the ceiling of approximately $110,000 might attract less experienced candidates, pointing out that nearby Berlin pays $125,000 for a comparable role, though Berlin is a larger municipality. After deliberation, the motion to approve the E4 salary range passed, with at least one dissenting vote.

"I'm just saying I'm worried about not attracting the right person for the job." [00:40:25] — Al Waters, Town Council member

The council also voted to establish a General Government and Social Services Special Revenue Fund at the request of the finance director, who explained the fund would house earmarked grant revenues such as opioid settlement dollars, an early voting grant, a bike helmet grant, and similar restricted funding streams that currently sit within the general fund but are not available for general use.

A clarifying action was taken on a November 12, 2025 motion regarding the outgoing police chief's sick-time payout. The council rescinded the original motion and re-adopted it with additional language specifying that the 25 percent payout of accrued sick time was conditioned on the chief's perfect attendance and his not having used any accrued sick leave during his tenure. Police Chief, who noted the January 14 meeting was his second-to-last before retirement, received commendation from several council members, including a firsthand account from council member Anne Hulick of a rapid police response to a suspicious-person call at her condominium complex in December.

On the Cultural District Commission front, Mayor Demetriades reported that the Connecticut Office of the Arts responded to Cromwell's application with encouragement but concern about the proposed district's roughly four-mile length along Main Street. The state suggested dividing the district into two sub-districts. The commission and council expressed reluctance to split the district, citing the continuity of unique local businesses, the historic Frisbee House, the rose quarry, and the Travelers Championship golf tournament. The Cultural District Commission was set to meet Monday, January 20, to draft a stronger response letter.

The council also approved a $200 donation to the Cromwell St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, which had reported fundraising difficulties ahead of the parade in Hartford. Council member Jack Henehan noted the cost to march is approximately $3,000 annually.

The council heard from Public Works Director Lou Spina, who reported that upgraded brine-spray trucks are now operational after delays, and that new road gates for Nooks Hill Road and South Street have begun installation. A fleet management software program, Napa Tracks, has also been running since late October. The finance director confirmed that department head budget submissions are due January 23, and that the annual budget referendum is set for May 5.

The council accepted minutes from December 10 and December 22, 2025, and made a series of committee appointments including Steve Wagonowski, Patricia Jepsen, Raymond Miller, Rosanna Glynn, John Keithan, John Kamatos, Gail Ivey, Barbara McLean, Joseph Morin, Tomer Kornfield, and Steve Wagonowski to various boards.

Why It Matters

The creation of the HR director position marks the first time Cromwell has had dedicated human resources leadership as a standalone department, a change approved directly by voters through the November 2025 charter revision. The salary debate signals that the council wants to attract credentialed candidates but is watching costs against comparable director-level pay. Separately, the Cultural District application matters for Main Street economic development: state approval would place Cromwell on the state tourism website and bring up to $5,000 in marketing funds. A response letter to the Connecticut Office of the Arts is expected to be circulated to council members in the weeks following a Cultural District Commission meeting scheduled for January 20. A joint Board of Finance and Town Council meeting to hear an engineering presentation on the WIS fields is set for January 20, and department budgets are due to the town manager by January 23, ahead of a May 5 referendum.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Amendments to the meeting agenda Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approval of amended agenda Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Accept resignations of Julia R. Gemma (Town Council), Lori Ullett and Faye Tine (Community Events Committee) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appointment of Jamin DeProto to Town Council Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Create General Government and Social Services Special Revenue Fund Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Set Director of Human Resources salary at pay scale E4 ($77,000–$109,000) Tally: For: 6, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Approve bulletproof vest grant, $14,700 (50% federally reimbursable) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Tax refunds, items 1 through 22 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Rescind November 12, 2025 motion on police chief sick-time payout Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Adopt revised motion on police chief sick-time payout with clarifying language Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appoint Rosanna Glynn from alternate to permanent member, Community Events Committee; appoint Raymond Miller as alternate Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve appointments — Steve Wagonowski (Public Asset and Facilities Committee), Patricia Jepsen (Conservation Committee), Raymond Miller (Community Events Committee, alternate), Rosanna Glynn (Community Events Committee, permanent) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appoint John Keithan to Public Asset and Facilities Committee Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Reappoint John Kamatos to Planning and Zoning Commission (alternate) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Reappoint Gail Ivey and Barbara McLean to Youth Services Board (terms expiring January 1, 2027) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Reappoint Joseph Morin, Tomer Kornfield, and Steve Wagonowski to Zoning Board of Appeals Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: $200 donation to Cromwell St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve minutes from December 10 and December 22, 2025 meetings Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Adjourn Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Cromwell's community access TV: Town Council meeting, January 14, 2026