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New Interim Head Appointed For Empower New Haven
NEW HAVEN - Empower New Haven Inc.'s board of directors Tuesday appointed the city's Deputy Economic Development Administrator Paul Wessel as interim administrator of the organization.
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Business New Haven
10/20/2002
By: PRESS RELEASE
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NEW HAVEN - Empower New Haven Inc.'s board of directors Tuesday appointed the city's Deputy Economic Development Administrator Paul Wessel as interim administrator of the organization. Today is the last day that Sherri Killins will work for Empower New Haven as president and CEO. Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and Chairman Roger Joyce terminated Killins "without cause" earlier this month.
Empower New Haven manages federal Empowerment Zone grant funds that are used to aid residents in the city's poorest census tracts. The organization does not provide direct services to zone residents, but rather contracts with outside agencies that respond to requests for proposals or submit unsolicited proposals for review.
Wessel remains a city employee and was named as interim administrator to help the nonprofit maintain its operations while the board conducts a search for a new president/CEO. "I'm happy to be helpful as long as the board wants me to be helpful," said Wessel, who has been at Empower New Haven's Elm Street office since Monday.
Vice Chairman Daniel Newell said Wessel has the power to sign payroll documents for the eight remaining staff members and execute contracts only for services already approved by the board. He does not have the authority to hire or terminate staff. "He will oversee the day-to-day management," said the city's Community Services Administrator Sheila Allen Bell, also a board member.
A transition committee comprised of seven directors will oversee Empower New Haven's progress while a search is conducted for a new president/CEO, Newell said. Wessel has spent the last two days gathering meeting minutes, legal documents and financial records.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $21.9 million in Empowerment Zone grants over approximately three years and less than $5 million remains unallocated.
Newell said the board is trying to establish how much money is under active contracts and how much has been earmarked for programs that have not come to fruition. "There's money allocated for programs that haven't moved yet," he said.
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