Longtime Municipal Leaders Awarded

CCM celebrates individuals that help their team win every day

While we often talk about municipalities as units - a town, for instance – really they are made up of departments and offices, and further still are the folks that make it happen day in and day out. We often laud the towns or cities for successful projects or innovative ideas and achievements, but every year at our annual convention, we take the time to highlight the work of two individuals who standout. This year’s Joel Cogen Lifetime Achievement Award and Richard C. Lee Innovators Award were given to Richard Johnson, Town Manager of Glastonbury, and Michael Lyn Cappello, Social Services Coordinator, Town of Litchfield.

Individuals are nominated by their peers for these awards that were created in honor of our CCM Founders, Richard C. Lee, Mayor of New Haven, and Joel Cogen, the founding Executive Director. The Lee Award is given to recipients who have developed unique and creative projects and programs that increase the effectiveness of local government. The Cogen is given to those who have dedicated a significant amount of time to their community over an extended period of time, as Cogen himself did for over 40 years.

Joel Cogen Lifetime Achievement Award — Richard Johnson, Town Manager, Town of Glastonbury

Richard has served as the Glastonbury Town Manager for nearly 30 years. During this time, he has achieved countless successes that have literally and figuratively transformed the landscape of the Glastonbury community. Richard’s passion for municipal management shines through all that he does. The past three decades have presented a significant evolution in technology, work practices, and more, and Richard embraces every challenge with professionalism, innovation, compassion, and a sense of humor. The projects he has spearheaded serve to benefit past, present, and future generations, and he is greatly respected by Town staff and community members.

Richard C. Lee Innovators Award — Michael Lyn Cappello, Social Services Coordinator, Town of Litchfield

During her first year as Social Services Coordinator, Michael Lyn Cappello has reenergized the outreach to our local seniors, disabled, veteran and school population. Examples of her notable achievements are the establishment a local Food Pantry, daily Municipal Bus service for our resident’s needs such as doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, vaccination clinics and to attend community and statewide events to combat the negative effects of social isolation. Michael Lyn’s network of volunteers is long and strong because of her positive, can do, will do attitude. She seeks out the needs of the community and works to find solutions. She is a treasure to Litchfield.

“Mayor Lee and former Executive Director Joel Cogen really set the example – they were towering figures in their time and their example lives long after them. We honor them by choosing individuals who can live up to and even exceed these two dedicated municipal servants,” said Joe DeLong, Executive Director and CEO of CCM.

“In Richard Johnson and Michael Lyn Cappello we have found individuals who meet these criteria and more. Through their work with seniors and special needs individuals, they have single-handedly made Connecticut a better place for their community and beyond. On behalf of CCM and the great State of Connecticut, I’d like to thank them for their service.”

It’s important to remember that no matter what town or city you work for, that your accomplishments are being recognized. This year’s Cogen and Lee award recipients are just two more examples in a long line of accomplished individuals who go above and beyond for their municipalities. We know that they aren’t the only ones and we look forward to celebrating as many as we can over the years.