Steve Morelli's replacement on Berlin Town Council? His Wife

Adam Salina told Berlin Patch Thursday night that the Berlin Democratic Town Committee has picked a replacement for Steve Morelli on the Berlin Town Council.

The Berlin Democratic Town Committee has voted to recommend that Margaret Morelli be appointed by the Town Council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of her husband, Stephen Morelli. Steve Morelli recently resigned from the Council to accept an appointment as a Workers’ Compensation Commissioner for the State of Connecticut. The Council is expected to fill the vacancy by appointment in accordance with the Town Charter.

“I am honored to be recommended by the Democratic Town Committee and it would be a privilege to serve the people of Berlin as a member of the Town Council,” said Morelli after the meeting. “I greatly admire and respect the current Council members and the town administration and I look forward to the opportunity to work with them for the remainder of Steve’s term.”

Ms. Morelli is a member of the Democratic Town Committee and currently sits as a Member of the Berlin Housing Authority. She is the President of LeadingAge Connecticut, an association representing not-for-profit provider organizations from across the long term care continuum of housing and services for older adults. LeadingAge Connecticut is headquartered in Berlin.

"I am thrilled that Maggie has shown an interest in filling the open Council seat,” stated Fred Jortner, Chair of the Berlin Democratic Town Committee. “She knows the community, has worked with budgets, has a great deal of experience with the legislative process, and will hit the ground running."

In endorsing the selection, Mayor Adam Salina said,  “Maggie is a perfect fit.  The Council members know her from all of her hard work managing the campaigns, as a strategist for the major issues facing the Town and as a trusted sounding board.  There will be no learning curve, and given some of the issues facing the Council this fall, we need someone who can get to work immediately“

Morelli received a B.A. degree from Wesleyan University and has lived with her family in Berlin since 1995. Her children Liz and Jimmy Connelly are Berlin High School graduates and her daughter Emma Morelli is a Berlin High School senior this year.

Berlin Town Charter, Section 2-11: Vacancies. Any vacancy in any elective town office, except as provided otherwise in this Charter, shall be filled from the electorate of the town by appointment by the Council for the unexpired portion of the term. In filling any vacancy, the Council shall appoint a person of the same political party as that of the former incumbent, unless said incumbent was not an enrolled member of a political party, in which case his successor shall not be an enrolled member of a political party.