Finance Director to Retire in February

When it's time, you know it, and Kathleen Etkin says she knows it's time.

The town's finance director notified Mayor Scott Jackson this week that she intends to retire from the position she has held for almost two years.

"It's something I had been thinking about since last summer," Etkin said Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, during the Legislative Council's committee meetings, Etkin's reappointment to her position was on the Administrative Committee's agenda, but the item -- one of a list of appointments approved by the committee Tuesday -- was pulled from the agenda.

Her decision was purely personal and has nothing to do with the financial challenges the town is facing, Etkin said.

"The town is facing a lot of challenges," she said, "but where aren't they facing challenges?"

Her last day on the job will be Feb. 3, she said, adding she has enjoyed her tenure in Hamden.

"I think the mayor is a wonderful person and an excellent mayor," she said, "which was one of the things attracted me to working for Hamden.

"It has been a pleasure working for this mayor," she said.

Etkin, a Yale University graduate, came to Hamden from the Regional Water Authority. She had previously worked for the city of New Haven and also worked for the firm in charge of that city's Ninth Square renovation project.

Chief Administrative Officer Curt Balzano Leng said next month the search for a new finance director will begin.

"We will do a full search for a new finance director," he said. "We will work hard to find an experienced municipal finance person who also can think outside the box."