Town Gets a New Economic Development Coordinator

The town has a new economic development coordinator.

The Town Council on Tuesday endorsed Mayor Jason McCoy's appointment of Shaun Gately to the position. An official start date has yet to be determined.

Gately, 41, a South Windsor resident, was the top candidate among three finalists chosen by a selection committee comprised of Republican Council Member Sean O'Shea, former mayor and current mayoral administrative assistant Diane Wheelock, and Assistant Town Administrator Peter Graczykowski.

A total of 22 people applied for the position and and five were interviewed by the committee.

Gately will make $79,000.

''He is knowledgeable, and has the ability to bring together brokers and business,'' O'Shea told the council.

Gately brings a diverse resume to the job. For the past two years, as operations and regional manager for Massachuetts-based Waltham Services, he has grown a collection of pest control franchises by 800 percent.

Concurrently, he has been a co-owner and managing partner of East Hartford-based Mariner Realty, which brokers commercial deals amid its business structure.

From 2004 to 2009, he was a managing partner for CCSR Associates of East Hartford, a private equity investment firm.

From 1992 to 2004, he moved through the ranks in the state corrections department from officer to chemical weapons instructor, to lieutenant to training coordinator in all levels of security.

When asked by Democratic council member Marie Herbst if he has a relationship with the mayor, Gately said he forged a business relationship with McCoy, when McCoy, a lawyer, represented his business interests.

''As a managing member of CCSR, a company that held private mortgages, rehabilitated properties and financed other real estate development … he acted in the business development role that concentrated heavily in development and financing … as the operations manager for Waltham Services … he has been responsible for successful new business development, account retention and service,'' McCoy said.

Gately said he will immediately work on business recruitment and retention.

''It's one thing for me to say 'this is what we should have,' but it's another thing to bring new business town,'' he said. ''We have some old mill buildings that could be a focus of recruitment, but there are several old mill buildings in several towns. We have to give businesses a reason to move to Vernon.''

Gately's appointment was endorsed 6-4 along party lines with the three Democratic council members plus unaffiliated member James Krupienski voting no.

Michael Winkler, an outspoken critic of many a McCoy appointment, begged for Gately's indulgence and maintained his questioning was ''not personal,'' when he grilled Gately on his candidacy, wondering aloud whether the selection committee could not find someone with more direct municipal experience.

He then quipped, that, ''The votes were already lined up, before (Gately) even entered the room.''

He then asked Gately directly if he believed he was the best qualified candidate.

"Yes sir,'' Gately said. ''If I didn't, I wouldn't have applied.''