Mayor Promotes Benivegna, Hires Radio, Insurance Businessman Sabatino

EAST HAVEN, CT —Mayor Joseph A. Carfora promoted Michelle Benivegna to the role of Director of Administration and Management/Economic Development, he announced.

Carfora also named Ed Sabatino as the Assistant Director of Administration and Management/Human Resources.

"Michelle, who's been with my administration since day one, is a tireless worker who personifies the term 'multitasking' with unyielding energy," Carfora said. "She's spearheaded the hiring for many town positions, and has been a staunch advocate for the hiring of women into leadership roles."

“Michelle takes on any challenge. No task is too small, and her preparation is second to none. She earned this promotion," Carfora said. "When Jamie told us this past fall that he would be leaving, Michelle began work with our economic development team. She is a relentless promoter of our community.”

Carfora is referring to Jamie Cuticello, who was hired to be the town's economic development director, but left that post in late 2022.

In a news release, it's noted, Benivegna "has relentlessly worked on Mayor Carfora’s most central initiatives." Those include "improving East Haveners quality of life, town promotional events, responsible budgeting, the ice rink rehabilitation, and the successful beach permitting process." Benivegna was an "integral part of the leadership for the town’s first-rate local and regional COVID-19 responses."

And, since January she has focused on economic development, and played a major part in the launch of LET’S CONNECT. That event, the first of a series, was co-hosted by Carfora’s office, schools Superintendent Erica Forti, and the town's Economic Development Commission. It highlighted the "pathways the district is clearing for students to identify, and realize, the greatest opportunity for success by bridging local businesses and career technical education students at the high school."

Benivegna told Patch that she is, "beyond excited and so proud the mayor has given me this opportunity."

"I am incredibly proud to be given this opportunity by Mayor Carfora. As a lifelong resident of East Haven, my investment in our community is something I am very passionate about. Together we have a great vision for continued improvement of the quality of life for East Haveners and economic development to make our wonderful beach town as attractive to business and industry as it is for beach goers and residents," she said.

Benivegna has "worked hand in hand with Mayor Carfora in doing more with less for the town," it was noted, and has been a "vital point person in integrating high level Finance Department positions into the Human Resources process through the use of stipend incentives. The result is a Human Resources team achieving in areas other towns are not."

Sabatino has extensive management experience in both broadcasting and the insurance industry The Department of Administration and Management, created in 1992, handles a wide-ranging group of responsibilities. Among them is the administration of general town government, economic and community development projects, labor relations including collective bargaining negotiations, and work with civic groups to arrange and organize activities for the community.

Benivega said she looks forward to working with Sabatino and to "tackling some tough issues in my new role, but I am happy that I will be able to continue to interface with the members of the newly bolstered Finance/Human Resources Department team."

Sabatino is perhaps best known for his on-air work at WPLR, the lifelong East Haven resident began his radio career as a teen, and has since managed multiple stations throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Most recently, his role was that of a vice president overseeing more than a dozen radio properties.

"Eddie brings superb interpersonal skills and has spent over 20 years managing high profile people in highly competitive environments. Truth be told, I have been recruiting Eddie since the beginning. But the time and fit just wasn’t right. Now it is, and I am thrilled to gain his talents for our administration and our citizens"

Sabatino is ready to get to work, he said.

"For nearly the past 4 years, I have been watching Mayor Carfora’s administration work to improve the quality of life for the residents of East Haven," he said. "I am honored to accept this position, and I'm excited to get working."