In recent years many of the towns most critical positions for effective operations have gone vacant beyond the typical six-month window it takes for a government to properly fill a position. In order to maintain an effective office, a position should never be vacant for more than six months, otherwise the office will start to see added costs to doing the everyday duties, lowered productivity and place undue burdens upon other members of the staff.

In addition the loss of productivity due to the vacancy brings about added costs to the town in terms of overtime pay for employees and the increasing backlog of the departments tasks that need a person employed with the full legal responsibilities of the position in question.

Hiring for a position should never be about political points for an election. Southington residents deserve to have an effective and productive town staff that is more concerned with the people and not how to cover a vacant position.