Haberek Looks to Remove Hat, Hire Planning Director

By Ellyn Santiago

First Selectman Edward Haberek will be asking the Board of Finance to add an additional appropriation to the director of planning line item so he “can hire somebody to do that job and more.”

Haberek told Patch there is currently $37,576 available so he’ll be asking the board for an additional $40,000 to the next fiscal year’s budget to bring the total to $77,576. His plan, he said, is to begin a search soon after the board approval with an eye toward hiring a new planning director in January of 2014.

“I have listened to a number of people’s feedback. The Planning and Zoning Commission wants a full time person. I’ve enjoyed working with them, but it would be better for the town, more helpful to have another person,” he said.

Haberek has been the de-facto planning director since former planner Bill Haase passed away. And the relationship between Haberek wearing that hat and the PZC has been contentious at best. Some commissioners have charged that Haberek has sidestepped planning and zoning rules and procedures, including sanctioning not-approved signage. 

Haberek said he would like to see the planning director’s role “expanded.”

“I’ll still be the face of economic development, selling the Stonington brand, but it would be helpful to have the director of planning’s role include economic development initiatives,” he said. 

Haberek will go before the Board of Finance in two weeks.

And speaking of planning and zoning, Haberek said the town will begin advertising this week for a part time zoning enforcement officer to fill the shoes vacated by longtime officer Joe Larkin who recently took a post in Ledyard.