After 16 years with the town, Finance Director Bob Tait will be retiring from the town, leaving it in a much better position financially than when he arrived.

The town achieved its AAA credit score under Tait’s management, and it was during his tenure that the fund balance was begun. Tait is leaned heavily upon by multiple volunteer boards, the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance, and the Legislative Council, for his knowledge and expertise.

First Selectman Jeff Capeci, in an announcement to Town employees and officials, said, “It is with great sadness that I am announcing the retirement, Friday, April 12th, of our Finance Director, Bob Tait.”

“You all have known him for nearly 16 years as the nice guy in the corner office who is often known for using his soft British accented voice to deliver unwanted budget details,” said Capeci. “I’ve known Bob this entire time. I was on the Legislative Council when he was hired and have relied on his expertise on and off over the years as a volunteer elected official. Bob has been excellent at managing the Town’s finances and will be difficult to replace. His wealth of knowledge in municipal finance along with his even temperament gave him a unique ability to explain the budget to the various boards and to get it passed usually at a single referendum year after year.”

Tait came to Newtown after having served as the auditor and then the controller for the Town of Fairfield. He was also finance director in Meriden for a year.

“Bob has been influential on so many levels from our excellent bond rating to planning for capital projects, grants processing, and managing Town investments,” said Capeci.

Capeci stated that he and town Human Resources Director Patrice Fahey have begun the process to find a successor “who will be qualified to build on the strong foundation Bob has laid for us.”

Capeci noted that the timing of Tait’s retirement “is helpful” because he will stay with the town through the budget season and depart “during a low before the start of the new fiscal year.”

Tait replaced former Finance Director Benjamin Spragg in May 2008.

Tait is a graduate of University of South Carolina. He served in the US Navy as a Seabee for five years, where he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, and graduated summa cum laude with a BA in business administration from USC-Columbia. Tait’s interim duties have brought him to West Haven, Hamden, and Regional School District 5 serving Bethany, Woodbridge, and Orange.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.