Town Hires Interim Officer in Westbrook, Connecticut

WESTBROOK - First Selectman Noel Bishop said the Board of Selectmen at their Jan. 3 meeting appointed Sandy Bannon-Rankin to be the town's new interim part-time animal control officer.

Bannon-Rankin is currently the part-time animal control officer in Old Saybrook.

Bishop said she will make $16.50 an hour and while her office hours will take place on Saturdays, she will be on call 24 hours.

Bannon-Rankin temporarily replaces Tonya Marocco, the town's animal control officer, who was arrested on Dec. 20 on a charge of cruelty to animals from a warrant executed by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

Marocco, who makes $15,000 annually, was suspended with pay after the arrest since the charge is related to her responsibilities as a town employee.
The Middlesex Superior Court has set Jan. 17 as a pending court date for Marocco.

Bishop said the Board of Selectmen will go into executive session at its Jan. 17 meeting to determine the future of Marocco's position as animal control officer.

It is a coincidence that the meeting is scheduled for the same day as the pending court date since the board regularly meets the third Thursday of each month, Bishop said.