Finance
Groton’s finance director retires after 40 years with the town
Groton — When Cindy R. Landry was employed in 1982, she by no means dreamed she would spend her whole profession with the city and that it will all be within the finance division.
She began off within the tax workplace, then moved to accounts payable and held positions as accounting supervisor and treasurer. She grew to become finance director in 2014. Final Friday, she retired after serving 40 years with the city.
“Forty years is a very long time and I noticed plenty of modifications through the years nevertheless it handed so very quick,” Landry mentioned. “I’ve labored with some wonderful individuals all through the years and can’t converse extremely sufficient of my workers each previous and current. I’m particularly grateful for the terrific bosses I had — every in their very own method taught me a lot and gave me the alternatives to realize the expertise that helped me to succeed in the place of finance director.”
Delia Morrison, who was appointed as deputy finance director in 2019, has been named interim finance director, and the everlasting place has been marketed, City Supervisor John Burt mentioned.
The finance director is “the Chief Monetary Officer of the City and plans, organizes, coordinates, manages, and directs all divisions of the Finance Division and oversees their adherence to the City’s fiscal administration insurance policies,” in response to the job posting. The director “is accountable for accounting, funding, money administration, income assortment applications, and buying,” and prepares annual monetary reviews.
Landry mentioned she loved all her years with the city and had the chance to consistently study. It was actually the individuals who made her wish to stick with the city for her whole profession.
“It was like a household,” she mentioned. “Everybody was simply so completely happy. Everybody helped one another out.”
Individuals have been all the time prepared to show and practice one another: “I’ll be eternally grateful for being employed right here,” she mentioned.
Despite the fact that she held positions as supervisor and finance director, Landry mentioned she all the time considered herself as a “employee bee” like everyone else and simply felt like she labored for the city and its residents. She tried to be accommodating and assist anybody who had questions.
Landry mentioned she would particularly prefer to thank Burt for his assist these previous few years. She mentioned she’s going to miss the city and her fellow staff however is trying ahead to her subsequent chapter.
Landry, 63, mentioned she is retiring as a result of it’s time. Her husband retired a few years in the past, and Landry, who was born within the South and moved to Groton at age 12, mentioned she’s a Southern woman at coronary heart and can return to the South to return to her roots and be nearer to her household. She has one son.
“Cindy was an unimaginable worker with a wealth of historic information, which might’t get replaced,” Burt mentioned. “We labored effectively collectively and he or she was all the time somebody I might rely on. She can be missed right here.”
Groton staff and officers who labored intently together with her additionally gave her accolades.
“I don’t know if I do know anyone that has the reminiscence for element that she has, and her skill to recall conditions and info and numbers simply all the time blew me away, however I might say she actually did effectively for the City of Groton,” Assessor Mary Gardner mentioned. “You’re in a tough place as director of finance as a result of everyone is coming to you for one thing, however she actually did effectively for Groton taxpayers and made the perfect choices for the city.”
“I all the time thought she did an amazing job, and he or she was actually a pleasure to work with,” Gardner added.
“The City has been lucky to obtain so a few years of service from Director Landry,” City Mayor Juan Melendez Jr. mentioned. “She all the time took the time to reply any questions I had. She can be missed.”
City Councilor Melinda Cassiere mentioned she can’t thank Landry sufficient for her years of devoted service. “She was all the time form, ready and demonstrated professionalism and endurance with elected officers throughout any of our budgetary questions or considerations,” Cassiere mentioned. “I congratulate her on her retirement.”
“Director Landry has supplied the city of Groton distinctive monetary oversight for a few years and her contribution to the City of Groton’s robust monetary place can’t be understated,” mentioned Groton City Councilor David F. McBride Jr., who can also be New London’s finance director. “She could be very well-known within the municipal world of finance and the City Council and the Administration wish to want her the easiest in her well-deserved retirement.”
City Councilor Rachael Franco mentioned she thinks Landry “is a Municipal Accounting Rock-Star, and her sneakers can be very exhausting to fill.”
“Throughout her time at Groton City Corridor, Cindy labored in numerous positions as she superior her profession to lastly retire as Director of Finance. She additionally spent in depth time after hours and on weekends attending Groton’s price range conferences, City Council, and RTM conferences,” mentioned Franco, who added that she has the utmost respect for Landry and thinks she has genuinely earned and deserves a protracted and fulfilling retirement. She mentioned she needs Landry all the perfect.
City Councilor Bruce Jones known as Landry a “enormous asset to the city.” He mentioned she was very, very devoted and tireless and was all the time prepared to assist and reply questions. She clearly defined monetary issues and was approachable by way of explaining the monetary workings of the city.
“I loved working together with her,” Jones mentioned. “I want her the perfect in her retirement. She’ll be missed.”
ok.drelich@theday.com