Located in room 101 of Town Hall, the Assessor's office determines the rate of taxable property in Wallingford. The office also provides exemption applications and information regarding local property. Shelby Jackson is the appointed assessor.
Located in the Town Hall building of Wallingford, the Department of Personnel, Pensions & Risk Management serves multiple purposes. At this department, applications are processed for employment, facilities are inspected and claim activities are organized in connection with the Town Attorney. Additionally, labor relations, contract and benefits administration are conducted.
Few mayors in the State of Connecticut have held office as long as Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., a veteran in the role since 1984. Dickinson, who was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Wallingford, says he's driven by his interest in the processes of government, where there are always "things at issue."
He earned a law degree from George Washington University and is proud to govern a place that has a small-town feel but also its own water, sewer and electric divisions, similar to a large city. Dickinson oversees an annual budget of more than $140 million.
The Program Planning and Economic Development offices are joined on the third floor of the Town Hall building in room 311. Donald Roe oversees both departments as the state and federal grant administrator and the only full-time employee.
Doreen DeSarro has worked to attract businesses to town as the Economic Development Commission's business recruiter since 1993. Doreen Zaback, also works part-time in the office in a completely different role as the Resource Recovery Project Coordinator, heading up recycling efforts.
Roe, who is responsible for updating the town's website takes the most pride in the department's Adopt-A-Road program, which calls for businesses and individuals to volunteer to rid the streets of litter twice a year.
Director Craig Turner oversees the town agency responsible for everything from counseling to assistance programs. A social worker, counselor and coordinator are available in the office, which is also home to WE CARE, Wallingford Alliance, and Resources and Education, which provides free programs for local children.
Justice Jack Irving Winkleman has been a Justice of the Peace for more than 19 years, and in that time has conducted 511 weddings.
The Wallingford Town Council is the town's nine-member legislative body of elected officials. Meetings occur on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Secretary Sandra Weekes works in the Office, where she generates agendas for routinely scheduled Town Council meetings. The Town Council acts as the legislative body for the community.
The Electric Division of Wallingford provides electric energy to residents of the city as well as a part of Northford. The department also sustains the municipal street light system.
Wallingford Community Day Care Center is a licensed and accredited day care that provides year-round, full- and part-time care, for infants, toddlers, and school age children. Located on Wharton Brook Drive, the building's fun and eye-popping pink colors are a welcoming sight for children. The classrooms are also quite colorful and stocked with books, blocks, and designated centers for play, music, learning and library. The grounds include spacious parking in front with a large and colorful playground, complete with age-appropriate toys and playscapes in the back.
This no-kill shelter has been bursting at the seams since the economy turned sour in 2008, according to animal control officer Lisa Seyler, with 2010 being the busiest year so far. Since the 1960s, the shelter has taken in mostly dogs and cats, although it also houses other household pets. Adoption fees are $5 for spayed and neutered cats and dogs and $50 for others, including a state voucher for the operation. Animals are only euthanized in the case of their being a danger to the public. The shelter is always in need of food donations and receives contributions from members of the community and local schools and organizations. Volunteers can sign up to walk dogs. Animals are listed on petfinder.com as well as on the community board at the Petco in town.