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“The funny thing is now, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Dorothy can all walk to work together up Orange Center Road; because our finance director, town clerk and tax collector all live next to each other or across from one another,” First Selectman Jim Zeoli said at the June 8 meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
Cifarelli had been a controller at FUSCO in New Haven where he has worked since 1986. He has a degree in accounting from the University of New Haven. He gave his notice on the morning of June 8, having just learned he was being offered the finance director position on June 7.
As of June 13, Town Hall had not officially received his letter of acceptance but was expecting it.
His history with the Orange Board of Finance helped land him the job. He served 8-years on the board before making a failed run at the Board of Selectmen in 2013.
“We had 46 applicants and reviewed every resume,” Zeoli said at the Board of Selectmen meeting. One of the requirements was a background in finance.
Zeoli said he asked the selection committee to take their time and not give an immediate answer on their choice. Later, every mailing to the first selectman indicated the same vote: Chifarelli.
As a life-long Orange resident, he’s served on several committees and boards including: the Amity Financial Advisory Board, Elementary Building Committee and Veteran’s Exemption Committee.
Chifarelli is expected to start his new position in Orange on or around June 29.
The Orange Times reached out to Chifarelli but has not yet heard back. Publisher Steve Hechtman however talked directly to Chifarelli who said he was accepting the position and gave notice.