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ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN APPROVING THE REQUEST FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THE CITY CHARTER REQUIREMENT CONCERNING RESIDENT ELECTOR STATUS FOR THE CITY CONTROLLER MICHAEL GORMANY.
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WHEREAS, under the revised City Charter, passed on November 7, 2023, Article II, Section 12 of the Charter (“Charter”) of the City of New Haven (“City”) there is set forth an Elector and residency requirement for certain appointed Public Officials, Department Heads and Deputies, unless otherwise provided by Law or waived in accordance with the provisions of § 12.D of the Charter; and
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2026 the New Haven Board of Alders, via Chapter 2, Art. IV, Division 1, Sec. 2-221 of the New Haven Code of Ordinances (OR-2026-0016), established an exception process to the Charter’s elector and city residency requirements for individuals in roles subject to resident elector requirements under the Charter; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gormany has been serving in the capacity as the City Controller since April of 2026; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gormany previously served the City from October 2004 to April 2024, where he took on a number of different roles crucial to the City’s financial operations including as a budget analyst, financial manager, controller, and budget director; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gormany has amassed several years of experience in the areas of public accounting, auditing, budget analysis, internal auditing, and compliance; and
WHEREAS, following Mr. Gormany’s departure, the City of New Haven undertook an extensive recruitment process for the role of Controller that spanned over 18 months yet only yielded a limited number of applicants who were qualified and fewer that lived in the City of New Haven; and
WHEREAS, in his two years prior to returning to work for the City of New Haven, Mr. Gormany succeeded in getting the City of West Haven out from under the State of Connecticut’s Municipal Accountability Review Board’s Tier IV oversight, one of the strictest levels of state oversight the State can place on a city; and
WHEREAS, at the time of his original hire at the City of New Haven, Mr. Gormany was not subject to a residency elector requirement and owned a home in Branford; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gormany’s residency in Branford represents a deep financial and personal interest to him; and
WHEREAS, maintaining an additional residence in New Haven would cause economic hardship to Mr. Gormany; and
WHERAS, based on the information provided, the Personnel Director of the City of New Haven has reviewed relevant criteria pursuant to Sec. 2-221 of the New Haven Code of Ordinances and has certified that this exception request from Mr. Gormany does indeed satisfy criteria for consideration; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gormany’s established Branford address fulfills the condition as established by Sec. 2-221 for an individual granted an exception to continue to reside within the State of Connecticut; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gormany has demonstrated exemplary dedication in serving the City of New Haven; and
WHEREAS, as such, an exception of residency/elector status will not be of detriment to our municipality nor diminish his effectiveness or dedication to his role.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED by the Board of Alders of the City of New Haven that the City Controller, Michael Gormany, be granted an exception of the New Haven Charter’s elector & residency requirement so that he may remain in her position and continue his hard work serving the people of the City of New Haven.