Southington Appoints New Town Manager

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Local officials didn't have to look far in appointing Southington's fourth town manager on Monday.

And, as new Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone pointed out, such appointments often don't come as unanimously during these divisive political times as his appointment did.

But Southington Town Council members were all in agreement with Ricciardone's qualifications and candidacy to lead the town.

Twice, the council voted 8-0 to appoint Ricciardone as the fourth town manager in Southington's history and to approve his $191,000 salary and contract.

After his appointment, Ricciardone — who has served as town attorney and is the current corporation counsel — said the bipartisan vote most excited him.

"I appreciate the bipartisan support," Ricciardone said. "It means a lot to me and I know I have very big shoes to fill."

Ricciardone will replace the retiring Mark Sciota, who announced last December he is stepping down.

Sciota has been the town manager since 2017 and he's worked in Southington since the mid-1990s, when he was assistant town attorney, town attorney, and assistant town manager in the years prior to his current post.

Ricciardone has followed a somewhat similar path, first serving as town attorney and, then, corporation counsel, a new position created in 2022.

A beaming Ricciardone was all smiles at Monday's council meeting, thanking the committee charged with finding Sciota's replacement, as well as all the town's employees.

"The town employees do a great job, they are so underappreciated. Everyone appreciates the police and fire. That's great," Ricciardone said. "We all do. But there are some people who work in the trenches. There's people working behind the offices that you don't see, you don't know about. They're the ones doing a lot of work that keep the lights on, keep the buildings clean. They work great.

"I appreciate your support. I appreciate your confidence in me," he said.

Council leadership said Ricciardone was the clear choice.

"A new era has arrived in the town of Southington," Southington Town Council Chairman Mark Chaplinsky Jr. said.

"With the appointment of Alex Ricciardone, Southington will look to build on the decades of tradition, success and learning that have been woven together through the various roles held by our current town manager, Mark Sciota, and those who preceded him.

"Through the interview process, Alex has articulated nicely his vision for both greater engagement and services for our entire community, but also building on and transforming the methods and tools used to operate our town, while fostering a collaborative environment for our town's employees."

Councilman Michael Delsanto agreed.

"I want to congratulate Alex," GOP councilman Michael Del Santo said. "This was an arduous journey. We started this a few months ago and I'm very excited to have Alex take the helm.

"I hope he will be as successful as our previous three town managers and I know he has the ability to do so."

From Dec. 29, 2022: 'Southington's Top Legal Advisor Now A Town Employee'

From Dec. 19, 2023: 'Top Southington Official To Step Down'

From May 15: 'Southington Throwing Retiring Town Manager A July Soiree'