Mansfield Town Manager Chosen for West Hartford Position

WEST HARTFORD, CT – After an extensive national search for West Hartford’s new Town Manager, the Town Council announced Wednesday that Matthew Hart, 52, of Mansfield has accepted a conditional offer of employment.

The Town Council will vote on the appointment at its meeting on Monday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, according to a release. The resolution and terms of employment will be made available on the town website.

Hart will succeed Ron Van Winkle upon his retirement in July, 2017. Ron has been with the Town of West Hartford since 1987 and has served as Town Manager since 2008.

Hart is presently the Town Manager of Mansfield, a full service municipality with a population of 26,453. Home to the University of Connecticut (UCONN), Mansfield offers all the cultural attractions of a major university, as well as a strong public school system and a new vibrant downtown.

Hart is an accomplished manager and leader with broad experience in local government. He began his tenure in Mansfield as Assistant to the Town Manager in 2000, and was promoted to Assistant Town Manager in 2002.

In October 2006, Hart was appointed as Mansfield’s third Town Manager. He values open government and democratic processes, and is a team-oriented manager, with a passion for leadership and public service.

As Town Manager in Mansfield, Hart has played a critical role in the development of Storrs Center, a mixed-use, New Urbanism project located adjacent to UCONN’s main campus, and in strengthening the town’s financial position through sound budgeting, capital planning, and debt management

Prior to his tenure in Mansfield, Hart served as Assistant to Town Manager in Windsor from 1997 to 2000. Hart also has experience working in the private sector and is a veteran of the US Army (1987-90) and US Army National Guard (1990-94).

“I am delighted to extend an offer of employment for the position of West Hartford Town Manager to Matt Hart", West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said in a release. “In a career that spans twenty years, Matt has shown that he is bright, hardworking, collaborative, ethical, and truly adept at managing both people and finances. He was by far the most qualified candidate and the best fit for this position. He comes highly recommended by those who have worked with him. He has been a leader in the state in town management, and was recently nominated to serve as a vice president of the International City/County Management Association, representing the Northeast Region. The search committee is very impressed with the respect and enthusiasm he shows for the position, and that he recognizes West Hartford as being a vibrant, diverse, and engaged community.”

Hart was one of 25 applicants who submitted their application for the position. Following a thorough review of applicants’ backgrounds and professional experiences, the Search Committee invited the five best-qualified candidates for an interview.

A subsequent finalist interview process included meetings with members of the Search Committee, the Superintendent of Schools, Police Chief, Director of Financial Services, the Executive Director of Human Resources and a group of community and business leaders.

Hart is an active member of the International City Management Association (ICMA), serving on the organization’s Sustainable Communities Advisory Committee. In addition, Hart is an ICMA credentialed manager, one of only 12 in the state of Connecticut. He was past president of the Connecticut Town and City Management Association (CTCMA).

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