Cromwell Town Council Picks Recruiting Firm, Weighs Eversource Response, and Approves Key Transfers

Town Council · Meeting of June 10, 2026

CT CROMWELL — Cromwell picks a recruiting firm for its town manager search and takes aim at Eversource rate hikes. The Town Council voted 5-2 at its June 10 meeting to hire the Human Resources Consulting Group — a Seymour-based firm recommended by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities — to lead the search for a successor to Town Manager Tony Salvatore, with an estimated cost of roughly $9,800 at a $175-per-hour rate against a $24,000 approved budget. A motion to hire SGR, a national firm that placed town managers in Rocky Hill and Glastonbury, was withdrawn after members noted its $29,419 quote exceeded the allocation.

On Eversource, Mayor James Demetriades cited the utility's $1.69 billion profit, 23 percent shareholder return, and $13.5 million CEO salary as he asked the council to authorize a protest letter to state officials and outreach to neighboring towns, noting the assessed value of Eversource equipment in Cromwell at approximately $25.78 million as a proxy for the cost of a potential municipal buyout. The council also reached consensus to authorize Salvatore to approve or deny up to $250,000 in non-reimbursable softball field change orders at Cromwell Middle School without a formal vote.

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Source: the Town Council meeting of June 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

CROMWELL — June 10, 2026 — The Cromwell Town Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to hire the Human Resources Consulting Group to lead the search for a new town manager, capping a lengthy and occasionally winding debate over three competing proposals.

Mayor James Demetriades presided over the meeting, which also addressed a $4,100 interdepartmental transfer, a flurry of proclamations and business-of-the-quarter awards, and an emerging effort to confront Eversource's rising electricity rates. The council also received updates on the Mattabassett District, the Cromwell Middle School building project, and a proposed firearms training collaboration between the Cromwell Police Department and the Cromwell Fish and Game Club.

The Full Story

The town manager search dominated the meeting's later hours. Three firms had submitted proposals: SGR, a Texas-based national firm that has placed town managers in Rocky Hill and Glastonbury; Para-Academic Partners, a smaller group with placements in 45 organizations across 16 states; and the Human Resources Consulting Group, a locally based firm recommended by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. The council had previously allocated $24,000 for the search. SGR's fixed fee was quoted at $26,919 plus up to $2,500 in ad placements — exceeding the allocation. The Human Resources Consulting Group submitted an hourly estimate of $175 per hour, projecting roughly 56 hours of work, or approximately $9,800, with additional fees possible. Para-Academic Partners estimated between $19,000 and $24,000 as a flat fee.

A motion to hire SGR was briefly made, seconded by Member Jack Henehan, and then withdrawn after council members noted that the firm's quote exceeded the approved budget and that proceeding would require a waiver of the town's normal bidding process as well as a return to the Board of Finance for additional funds. The discussion then shifted to the Human Resources Consulting Group, which fell within the budget and carried CCM's endorsement.

"I personally am in favor of Human Resource Consulting Group because they're the low bid, as far as I can tell, and they're recommended by CCM. I don't think there's significant enough of a difference to justify an additional $20,000 of potential costs." [no timestamp index provided] — Mayor James Demetriades

The motion for the Human Resources Consulting Group was made by Henehan and seconded by Member Anne Hulick. It passed 5-2.

On the Eversource question, Demetriades reported that Eversource posted a $1.69 billion profit last year, delivered a 23 percent increase in shareholder returns, and paid its chief executive $13.5 million — a 19 percent raise. He noted the town of Vernon is circulating a petition opposing rate increases and that the town's assessed value of Eversource equipment in Cromwell stands at approximately $25,780,000 — what it would cost the town to purchase the utility's local infrastructure and explore municipal ownership. The mayor said he would draft a protest letter, circulate it among council members, and reach out to neighboring towns about coordinating a regional response.

"I would urge this council to submit a letter, a strong protest — not only to the governor, to PURA. They're the ones that are going to end up signing off on any rate increases." [no timestamp index provided] — Member Al Waters

On the Mattabassett District, Demetriades said he had received complaints about odors from the facility, which is now incinerating 400 tons of sludge per month, and planned to meet with Mattabassett Executive Director Art Simeone in July. He also announced the council would invite Simeone to present at the August meeting, similar to a public hearing held in December 2024.

The council reached a consensus — without a formal vote — to authorize Town Manager Tony Salvatore to review and approve or deny change orders submitted by the Cromwell Middle School Building Committee for the CMS softball field, estimated at potentially up to $250,000. Items flagged for scrutiny included an 18-foot protective fence, warning-track sod quoted at $30,800, and colored fence toppers. A separate proposal to repaint a CMS hallway for $24,950 was also discussed without a vote; the council expressed skepticism but took no formal action pending further information.

Why It Matters

The town manager search moves into an active phase: the Human Resources Consulting Group will now begin developing the candidate profile and recruitment materials, with the council indicating it may form a liaison subgroup to participate in interviews. Outgoing Town Manager Tony Salvatore has agreed to remain until a replacement is hired, but the timeline carries weight — the council's stated goal is a hire within three months. On Eversource, the discussion sets the stage for Cromwell to potentially join a regional coalition of municipalities pushing back against rate increases, with a letter to state officials and PURA expected before the July meeting.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Amend the meeting agenda to add three items Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve the amended agenda Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Table the capital fund project reallocation policy discussion Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve interdepartmental transfer of $4,100 from employee benefits to tax collector Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve tax refunds items 1 through 5 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Hire the Human Resources Consulting Group for town manager search Tally: For: 5, Against: 2, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Amend agenda mid-meeting to add May 13 special meeting minutes (item O-1A) Tally: Approved (two-thirds required; motion carried)

- Vote: Approve May 13, 2026 regular and special meeting minutes Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Reappoint D. Doxy to Senior Services Commission through June 2028 Tally: Approved (with noted abstentions)

- Vote: Reappoint Rosemary Mattis to Cultural District Commission through June 2028 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Accept resignation of Kashmir Amira from DEI Committee Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Adjourn at 9:41 p.m. Tally: Approved unanimously

Source Cromwell's community access TV: Town Council meeting, June 10, 2026