Mayor Justin Elicker announced Friday his appointments of four new city department heads — including Michael Gormany, who plans to return to his former role at the helm of city finances while requesting permission to live outside the city. Elicker unveiled those new appointments at a press con ference at City Hall Friday afternoon. Elicker announced Friday that he is appointing: Daniel Coughlin as Fire Chief after the retirement of current Chief John Alston. Coughlin will serve as acting chief until the Board of Alders votes on his appointment. Allison Jacobs as Corporation Counsel, the attorney who represents the city and leads a department of city lawyers, after the retirement of current Corporation Counsel Patricia King. Haley Simpson as Director of Traffic, Transportation, and Parking, replacing current director Sandeep Aysola. Michael Gormany as City Controller, replacing current Controller Kristi Sampieri. While Alston and King had already announced their retirements, Aysola and Sampieri’s departures had not been previously publicized. Asked why Aysola and Sampieri have not been reappointed, Elicker responded, “People are moving on at the end of their appointments.” Asked whether the mayor or the department heads themselves made that decision, Elicker repeated, “People are moving on at the end of their terms.” On June 26, City Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli offered a one-word evaluation of Aysola’s work (“satisfactory”), a report that was identical to written evaluations for at least ten other department heads. Three of the four prospective department heads have previously held positions in City Hall. In fact, Gormany is being appointed to a position he once held in an acting capacity. Gormany served as the city’s Budget Director from 2017 to 2024. For much of that time, from 2020 to 2024, he doubled as the city’s Acting Controller, overseeing the Finance Department. A Branford resident, he hadn’t been able to serve as the controller due to a provision in the City Charter mandating that department heads reside in New Haven. Gormany retired from both roles in April 2024, after a lawsuit from Westville resident Dennis Serfilippi challenged his ability to continue serving as an acting department head beyond six months. He went on to serve as Budget Director for the City of West Haven, while taking on a part-time contract in the city’s Office of Policy, Management, and Grants. According to City Spokesperson Lenny Speiller, Gormany plans to seek permission from the Board of Alders to serve as Controller while residing outside of the city, akin to the permission that former Chief Administrative Officer Regina Rush-Kittle received from alders in 2024. Gormany did not appear at Friday’s press conference, and Sampieri did not respond to a request for comment in time for this story. Sampieri’s term ends on Jan. 31, after which Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Rebecca Bombero will become the acting controller. Gormany will begin the role on April 6. At Friday’s press conference, Simpson, Jacobs, and Coughlin each had a chance to introduce themselves to a row of reporters as well as dozens of City Hall employees and supporters. Simpson, who currently serves as Elicker’s deputy chief of staff, said she plans to take the helm of Traffic, Transportation, and Parking with a focus on bringing existing departmental efforts — from traffic camera enforcement to bus rapid transit — over the finish line. Simpson previously worked as a program manager at Elm City Communities, helping to lead a redesign of the former Church Street South apartment complex site. Elicker said that he had been impressed by Simpson’s work during a Church Street South community meeting and “worked hard to recruit her” to City Hall. Simpson, a lifelong New Havener, referenced remarks from Piscitelli that “TTP saves lives every single day.” She pledged to be “outcome-driven”, “accountable”, and committed to “follow-through.” Aysola will end his four-year term as the department head on Jan. 31, after which Simpson will take over his position and leave her post as deputy chief of staff. Fire Chief appointee Coughlin is also a lifelong New Haven resident. He’s been a New Haven firefighter for nearly 25 years and has served as assistant chief of operations in the department since 2023. Elicker noted that he was highly recommended for the position by colleagues in the department and praised Coughlin’s “exemplary” career. “My number one priority is going to be recruitment from the city,” stated Coughlin. He said that while the Fire Department has made strides in increasing the diversity within the department, there is room for improvement in specifically recruiting city residents. “We absolutely have to have diversity, but it’s gotta come from the streets of the Hill, Fair Haven, Westville…” he said. He said he hopes to assign a firefighter to a position specifically focused on recruitment. Finally, Corporation Counsel appointee Jacobs will come to the city from her current role as a partner of Jacobs Jacobs, a law firm that Jacobs’ grandfather founded in New Haven in 1918. At the firm, Jacobs said, she’s spent her career “fighting for injured people.” Another lifelong resident of the city, Jacobs also serves as President of the Foundation for the New Haven County Bar and incoming President of the New Haven County Bar Association. She’s additionally a hearing officer for the Livable City Initiative, a small claims and housing magistrate for the state’s judicial system, and a member of the Board of Tax Assessment Appeals. Jacobs will begin on April 6, with current Acting Corporation Counsel Rod Williams continuing in the role until then. Simpson, right, takes a celebratory selfie with her former boss, Elm City Communities President Shenae Draughn. Jacobs, left, speaks with a group of city attorneys. The post Mayor Picks New Fire Chief, Transit Director, Corp Counsel, Controller appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less