New Town Manager Named for West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT – The West Hartford Town Council announced this week that Matthew Hart, 52, of Mansfield has been appointed as its next Town Manager.

Hart was officially appointed at the council's April 17 meeting, according to a release. He will succeed Ron Van Winkle upon his retirement in July, 2017. (To sign up for West Hartford breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

Van Winkle has been with the Town of West Hartford since 1987, and has served as Town Manager since 2008.

“The Town Council is delighted to appoint Matt Hart as West Hartford’s new Town Manager," West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said in a release. “Matt Hart was by far the most qualified candidate and the best fit for this position. The search committee was very impressed with his financial knowledge, management style, and approachable personality that will serve him well in our community.”

Hart presently serves as Town Manager of Mansfield, and is considered an accomplished leader with broad experience in local government.

He began his tenure in Mansfield as Assistant to the Town Manager in 2000, and was promoted to Assistant Town Manager in 2002 and appointed as Mansfield’s third Town Manager in October 2006. He values open government and democratic processes, and is a team-oriented manager with a passion for leadership and public service.

As Mansfield’s Town Manager, he played a critical role in the development of Storrs Center, a mixed-use, New Urbanism project located adjacent to UCONN’s main campus, and in strengthening the town’s financial position through sound budgeting, capital planning and debt management

Prior to his tenure in Mansfield, Hart served as Assistant to the Town Manager in Windsor from 1997 to 2000. He also has experience working in the private sector and is a veteran of the US Army (1987-90) and US Army National Guard (1990-94).

The search for a new Town Manager drew 25 candidates from coast-to-coast. Following a thorough review of applicants’ backgrounds and professional experiences, the Search Committee invited the five best-qualified candidates to interview.

A subsequent finalist interview process included meetings with members of the Search Committee, the Superintendent of Schools, Police Chief, Director of Financial Services, the Executive Director of Human Resources and a group of community and business leaders.

“Our Town’s present and future challenges abound,” Elmwood Business Association President Rick Liftig said in a release. “The greatest strength that I saw in Matt, was his familiarity with the financial hurdles facing West Hartford and the State of Connecticut. He knows what lies ahead and is confident in his ability to find solutions.”

Hart is viewed as a leader in town management and was recently nominated to serve as a vice president of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), representing the Northeast Region.

In addition, Mr. Hart is an ICMA credentialed manager, one of only 12 in the state of Connecticut. He was past president of the Connecticut Town and City Management Association (CTCMA).

“While Mansfield and West Hartford may seem to be two diverse communities, they share the same values: education, public safety, economic development and community engagement,” West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Barbara Lerner said in a release. “Matt will preserve those values while bringing a fresh prospective to the position of Town Manager.”

Hart and his wife, Kara, will be moving to West Hartford in the near future with their two daughters.

Hart enjoys coaching his daughters’ sports teams, spending time outdoors and cheering for his beloved Red Sox and UCONN Huskies. The Town will be planning a community reception to welcome him to West Hartford, with details on the event forthcoming.

The resolution and terms of employment are posted on the town web site.

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