After more than four years as Hartford's Director of Housing
and Community Development, Ralph Knighton submitted his resignation
to the City Manager's office on Friday, August 14.
City Manager Saundra Kee-Borges said Knighton resigned to take
advantage of the city's early retirement plan and to pursue a
job with the federal government. "He (Knighton) was a good
and valued employee and we wish him the best of luck in the future,"
she said.
Knighton went on vacation after submitting his resignation and
could not be reached for comment.
However, one observer of Hartford City Hall said Knighton had
been getting more and more frustrated with the lack of support
he seemed to be getting from various sectors of city government.
Deputy City Manager Pat Williams said that Bruno Mazzulla, Assistant
to the City Manager and Director of the Department of Property
Acquisition and Disposition, will assume some of the duties of
the Director of Housing and Community Development but will not
officially be named to the position.
Williams said the City is already going ahead with selecting
a replacement for Knighton and is currently reviewing the job
description to make sure it is still current. "We really
do want to get moving on this thing," she said.
Knighton was named Housing Director in July, 1994. Prior to this
he had served the City as an Executive Assistant in the Mayor's
Office, a Project Manager in the Planning Department and an Administrative
Analyst in the Department of Housing and Community Development.
