Longtime City Employee Retires In Shelton
SHELTON, CT — On Friday, city officials bid farewell to Cyndee Burke, a longtime Shelton employee and executive secretary to Mayor Mark Lauretti, as she officially entered her retirement.
Speaking before a crowd gathered to celebrate this milestone, a video of which was posted to Facebook by the city, Lauretti credited Burke as being the “go-to person” for all City Hall-related matters in Shelton.
“You would think Cyndee was here before I got here,” Lauretti said, “and then every other year she would tell me I needed to win reelection for job security. I didn’t think she was going to pull this on me though so soon.”
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According to Lauretti, Burke began her career with the city in 1991 as the clerk of the Board of Aldermen. She then quickly moved to the mayor’s office to serve as executive secretary, a position she has held for many years since.
“Everyone can agree that Cyndee has been a source of support, not only for the mayor but for the countless city employees,” Lauretti said. “A calming presence in a fast-paced office, a selfless organizer whose actions help raise morale and a kind and compassionate woman who never forgets a birthday, we can all agree there will never be another Cyndee at City Hall.”
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He also praised Burke for the positive and professional attitude she brought with her to work every day.
“She did it in fine fashion, and my job was so much easier because of it,” Lauretti said, “and I’ve got to say from the bottom of my heart I just appreciate how you have handled so many things over these years and what an asset you have been to the city of Shelton and to myself.”
Burke thanked everyone in attendance for their friendship and for their kindness during her time on the job.
“I’ve always said City Hall was my work family,” Burke said. “I’ve always felt that way, and through the high times and the low times you were all family to me, and everybody I just enjoyed working with and interacting with all of you. Everybody’s always been very kind, very responsive to me with any dealings I had with your office, so thank you very much.”
She also thanked Lauretti for the opportunity to work for him and putting his trust in her over the years.
“It meant a lot to me,” Burke said. “I have enjoyed working with you and I feel honored to have worked for you, and I think we became friends over the years too.”
Following a proclamation in her honor, Lauretti revealed the city will also observe a “Cyndee Burke Day” in Shelton, the date for which will be announced in the future.
“I’ve said many times in the public arena that no one does it alone,” Lauretti said. “No one creates a level of success by themselves. You have to have a good cast of supporting people behind you, and I’ve been fortunate over the years to have that in many different capacities, and certainly in the mayor’s office and here in City Hall, and Cyndee [is] part and parcel to the success that this city enjoys and the accolades that we get from people outside our borders, because this is the engine; City Hall is the engine, and when it runs at a high efficiency good things happen.”
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