After making the position known to current town staff members, Newtown’s Human Resources Department has opened an application period for a newly-created position that will oversee the Social Services, Senior Services, and some duties currently handled by the Center for Support and Wellness (CSW).

Recent revelations about the departure of each of the three directors at the Newtown Senior Center, the Social Services Department, and the CSW created an opportunity for First Selectman Dan Rosenthal to consider installing an experienced professional as Newtown’s first Director of Human/Senior Services, combining the three directors into one role.

The first selectman said this should streamline, and more importantly, enhance delivery of services in these key areas.

That development will also permit the town to hire or promote staff members to expand support positions in Senior Services and the Social Service agencies. Beyond a day-one net savings of $10,000 in salaries, additional benefit funds could be recouped if the support positions are deemed to be part-time.

In addition, Mr Rosenthal is proposing that a full-time programming specialist, hired primarily for the new community center, split duties to devote one-third of their time handling programming for the new senior center, versus adding additional expense by hiring a separate part-time senior programming professional.

“The senior center is just one mechanism in our delivery of senior services,” the first selectman told The Newtown Bee. “By creating a single executive management position and bringing on assistants and programming talent, we’ll reach more people, connect more dots, and break down silos that may have existed in the past.”

Applications available at [naviga:u]newtown-ct.gov[/naviga:u] or access the application [naviga:u]by clicking here[/naviga:u].

Read all the qualifications and benefits of this position in this week's print edition of The Newtown Bee - on local newsstands or subscribe by calling 203-426-3141 or by clicking [naviga:u]HERE[/naviga:u].