THOMAS P. FLAHERTY
WESTFIELD- Westfield Gas & Electric General Manager Tony Contrino is preparing to retire and applications are sought to fill the position.
At the same time, Municipal Light Board (MLB) Ward 5 Commissioner Thomas P. Flaherty announced his resignation from the board last week after having served on the board for 17 years.
In a letter sent to the rest of the MLB and to Westfield Gas and Electric Contrino, Flaherty said that his resignation was effective Wednesday, Nov. 18.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of the Municipal Light Board for nearly 17 years representing the Rate Payers of Ward 5 and the City of Westfield as a whole,” said Flaherty in his brief letter.
This is not the first time Flaherty has resigned from the board. In 2018, Flaherty resigned from the board when former General Manager Daniel Howard announced his retirement from the position. Flaherty intended to go for the general manager position when he was off the board, but the job ultimately went to Contrino, who will also soon be retiring.
Tony Contrino, General Manager of Westfield Gas+Electric and Whip City Fiber.
Flaherty has not said publicly that he intends to apply for the general manager position, but the timing of his exit from the board would give him the opportunity to do so. Flaherty has not yet been reached fordid not comment further.
Light Board Chair Robert Sacco said there will be additional notice and advertisements for the position soon. Applicants have until Dec. 31 to apply. Sacco added that in 2018 at least 74 people applied for the general manager position.
“Hopefully after a quick review of the resumes [we will] select our top prospect,” said Sacco.
As far as filling the vacant Ward 5 seat, Sacco said the process begins with the Westfield City Council and Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. Letters of interest must be submitted to be considered for the position, which will eventually be filled via a joint vote between the City Council and MLB.
When Flaherty last resigned in 2018, he retook his own seat that December in another joint vote between the two bodies.
