New Canaan Hires Full-Time Assistant Zoning Inspector

NEW CANAAN, CT — The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the hiring of Steven Payne as the town's full-time assistant zoning inspector during a meeting Tuesday.

Cheryl Pickering-Jones, the town's human resources director, told the board Payne has worked as an assistant foreman for Anthony Tomas Builders in Norwalk since 2017.

"He interprets building plans," Pickering-Jones said, "works with land use on job sites and works with projects on zoning issues."

First Selectman Kevin Moynihan noted Payne is the son of the town's fire marshal, Paul Payne.

"There's nothing in our codes that would object us from hiring him," Pickering-Jones said, "but we did put him through the process."

Pickering-Jones said the town received 16 resumes for the position, from which they interviewed five candidates. Of those five, three were brought back for further consideration and Payne was ultimately chosen for the position.

"Throughout the interviews, we could see [Payne] was a great communicator," Pickering-Jones said, "very personable, and we believe he would be a great asset to the town."

Sarah Carey, the town's assistant planner and zoning inspector, said Payne seemed like a great candidate for the position and noted he had "a lot of energy."