In Vernon, Ex-Cop Now A Building Official, Town Planner Also Named

VERNON, CT — A new building official and town planner have been appointed in Vernon.

A familiar face in Steve Prattson is now a building official. He is scheduled to begin the position on Aug. 8. The town council Tuesday unanimously approved Mayor Daniel Champagne's appointment of Prattson.

As you may recall, Steve recently left Vernon to become Coventry’s Building Official. I am delighted to welcome Steve back to Vernon.

Prattson, a resident of Tolland, has a long history in Vernon. He has served as a police patrol officer and detective with the Vernon Police Department, then has been a licensed electrician for the Vernon public school system before being name Vernon's building official.

The council Tuesday also approved the mayor's appointment of Ashley Stephens as town planner.

Stephens was the town's sustainability Intern in 2019 and played a key role in the town achieving the top rating from Sustainable CT.

Stephens is a resident of Manchester and is coming to Vernon from Woodstock, where she has been the department head of land use.

Before working in Woodstock, she was the assistant land use agent and zoning enforcement officer for the town of Willington.

Stephens is set to start in Vernon on Aug. 1.