Nemerson Placed On Leave

Mayor Toni Harp Friday placed Matthew Nemerson, her economic development chief, on an unpaid leave of absence.

City Plan Director Michael Piscitelli will lead the city’s economic development team during Nemerson’s absence.

Harp said Friday she didn’t want to discuss the leave because it is a personnel matter.

Nemerson has served as economic development chief since Harp became mayor in 2014. He has overseen the revival of long-stalled projects like the new College Street Music Hall and construction of new apartments and offices and stores on 11.6 fallow acres in the Hill. Thursday he attended ribbon-cuttings for a new downtown healthcare innovation hub and an expanded plumbing and kitchen showroom in the Mill River District.

A strong advocate for his positions, Nemerson has also at times clashed with colleagues and others, especially recently, as the administration wrestled with budget and airport controversies and a stalled effort to get the ​“Live Work Learn Play” development built on the former New Haven Coliseum site.

Harp was right to put him on leave, Nemerson told the Independent Friday.

“People are getting annoyed with me,” he said.

“It has been a difficult six months for me. I had a heart attack. I lost my mother. I lost my uncle. I just think I’m overreacting to things at work, things that we’re trying to do that we’re not accomplishing.

“There’s a big difference between the private sector and government. I agree with the mayor that I’ve got to do a better job of mentoring and supporting my team.”

Nemerson said he’s using the leave to ​“calm down,” meditate, and work with ​“experts at helping executives deal with frustrations and continue to be a very positive force at work, which I think I need to do a better job at.”

“Although I’m clearly in the doghouse, I’m thankful that the mayor is willing to give me a chance to get over this and get back to being a nurturing and positive force within the administration,” he said.