Enfield Town Manager Abruptly Resigns During Council Meeting

ENFIELD, CT — Enfield Town Manager Christopher Bromson abruptly resigned in the middle of a town council meeting Monday night, in the midst of discussion about a proposed bike path in the Thompsonville section of town.

The proposed path would include Franklin Street, a one-way road which runs between Pearl and Enfield streets. Newly-elected District 2 councilor John Santanella was critical of the document included in the information packet, citing "no mention of community impact."

Deputy Mayor Gina Cekala concurred, stating, "There is zero in here about any redoing of any road or travel path."

Following the criticism, Bromson suddenly said, "I talked to you before the election and said my time here was short. Tonight, watching all of you and meeting in executive session, I think it's time for you to pick your own manager, for you to proceed on your own course. So what I'm going to do is leave now. I'm going to make my resignation effective in two weeks."

Before departing, Bromson appointed Director of Finance John Wilcox as acting town manager. He then motioned his hand toward the council members and said, "I can just see this is not going to be something I want to be involved in going forward. We've done incredible things, and this picking ... I'm not going to be part of it, so I bid you adieu."

Bromson picked up his folders, tossed his pen on the table and left the chamber. The council took a 7-minute recess before reconvening, with Wilcox now seated in Bromson's former spot.

Mayor Bob Cressotti confirmed he and the other council members received an email from Bromson late Monday night, reaffirming his decision to resign effective Dec. 4, "or earlier if the town council decides so." Assistant town manager Kasia Purciello is on maternity leave until February, Cressotti said.

"It was an unexpected decision by the town manager," Cressotti told Patch, declining further comment. Bromson also declined comment on the matter.

Bromson was appointed town attorney in the fall of 1989, serving in that capacity through 2008, with a short stint as acting town manager in 2005-06 and eight years as director of public safety. He was appointed acting town manager on May 29, 2018 following the sudden departure of Bryan Chodkowski, and was made full-time town manager by the council in early September of that year.

In the E-TV video below, the discussion leading up to Bromson's resignation begins around the 2:12:00 mark. Note: his microphone was not on during much of the exchange, making it extremely difficult to hear.

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