CONNECTICUT, USA — The Connecticut Port Authority, or CPA, announced the hiring of Michael J. O'Connor as their new executive director in a release Tuesday. The announcement comes on the heels of an audit report earlier this month noting "several internal control deficiencies" and issues with documentation.
The CPA is a quasi-public agency that began in 2014 and is responsible for "marketing and coordinating the development of the state's ports and maritime economy," according to its website. They oversee ports in Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London.
The CPA's Board of Directors announced O'Connor's appointment at their meeting on Tuesday, following an executive session discussion and a public session vote. His appointment comes after Interim Executive Director Ulysses Hammond resigned to return to his home in Maine, the CPA said.
O'Connor retired from his role as vice president of Dominion Energy's Millstone Power Station in November, according to the CPA. Beginning in 1992, he held multiple positions within the company, including senior reactor operator and operations shift manager, nuclear operations manager, director of nuclear station safety and licensing, and plant manager. He became vice president in March 2022.
Beginning his role as executive director, O'Connor plans to hire a new maritime development manager, as the former manager resigned after he was recruited back to his former employer.
“This is an exciting time for the Connecticut Port Authority with State Pier fully operational as an offshore wind hub and one of the most advanced maritime facilities on the East Coast,” O’Connor said. “Revenue from the offshore wind industry’s use of State Pier will enable the Port Authority to broaden its investments in the state's maritime infrastructure. The leadership experience and technical ability that I have gained will be beneficial to guide the port authority to accomplish its mission to develop the state’s ports and grow our maritime economy.”
O'Connor's background includes a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at the University of New Haven, a Master of Business Administration from the UConn School of Business and 10 years serving the U.S. Navy in various roles while in Connecticut, the CPA said. He has been serving as Bozrah Board of Finance chairman since 1995, is a former member of the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority Executive Board and is the vice chair of the Mitchell College Board of Trustees.
“Mike brings more than three decades of leadership experience to the Connecticut Port Authority after serving in various levels of responsibility from the ground up at Dominion Energy,” said Paul Whitescarver, chairman of the CPA Board of Directors. “Mike’s deep management experience, knowledge of public finance, and his familiarity with local and statewide leaders will be of great value to the Port Authority.”
News of the hiring came after Connecticut State Auditors released an audit report earlier this month of 60 expenditures, identifying "several internal control deficiencies, including that CPA could not provide documentation to support the contracted hourly service rates for six invoices."
In a response to the audit, Sen. Heather Somers, Sen. Henri Martin, and Sen. Stephen Harding noted a lack of transparency at the CPA.
“Multiple internal control deficiencies. Lack of key documentation. Questions involving millions of taxpayers’ dollars. And that’s just from this year’s audit findings. How - and why - does this keep happening?" the state Senate GOP said.
In the statement, they also noted, "Year after year, we as lawmakers work in a bipartisan fashion to craft and pass legislation to reform the authority, yet it seems we will always have more reforms to make. The authority is entrusted with millions of taxpayers' money. It is making crucial decisions which have long-term impact on our region and entire state. And the taxpayers keep getting hit with the mounting bills."
In 2019, Gov. Ned Lamont said he overhauled the CPA as a previous audit noted gross mismanagement and a lack of oversight. An informational forum was held earlier in the year after a whistleblower complaint revealed the CPA paid $3,000 to Chairwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder to decorate the Port Authority Office, authorized by the-then Board Chair Scott Bates.
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