Top Southington Official To Step Down

SOUTHINGTON, CT — One of the new Southington Town Council's biggest jobs in the coming new year will be to find a new town manager.

That task was made clear recently with the announcement longtime Southington Town Manager Mark Sciota will retire in June 2024, when his current contract is up.

Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky Jr. announced Sciota's upcoming retirement in a statement released late last week.

He said Sciota's tenure serving the town began with 11 years as assistant town attorney and town attorney.

Then, Chaplinsky said, Sciota was assistant town manager from 2006-17, taking over as the town's top-appointed official in 2017.

"Throughout his tenure, Sciota has played a pivotal role in shaping the growth and development of Southington," wrote Chaplinsky. "Mark is only the third town manager in Southington's history since our town established the council-manager form of government in 1966."

He said Sciota's tenure was marked by "steady growth, progress, and positive transformation," citing town infrastructure upgrades and open space purchases as being among his achievements.

"Mark has been instrumental in many initiatives, such as the upgrade of three elementary schools, and two middle schools, the building of the new Calendar House, acquisition of the Southington Country Club development rights, the building of a new library, strong development of safety functions and so much more," wrote Chaplinsky.

He said Sciota plans to continue living in Southington with his family and will still be seen around the local community "in various volunteer capacities."

Chaplinsky said plans to find Sciota's replacement will be finalized after the new year, with local officials hoping to have a successor announced before Sciota leaves.