First full day for Hartford's new mayor

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - Pedro Segarra, who replaced Eddie Perez, spent his first full business day as Hartford's new mayor. 

Mayor Perez's name had been scrapped off the front door of the Mayor's office over the weekend and a city employee applied the new mayor's name late this morning. Officially in the recently cleaned out office for the first business day as Mayor, Segarra awaited resignations from all the mayor's staff and city department heads.

"I think by Wednesday, we should start hearing some announcements," Segarra said.

The mayoral staff's resignation letters are going to chief of staff Susan McMullen. All department heads turn theirs in to Chief Operating Officer David Panagore; Panagore and McMullen submit theirs directly to Segarra.

"I wouldn't classify it as 'heads are rolling,' I think that's an insensitive term," Segarra said.

His first official visitor was City Treasurer Kathleen Palm. She, along with the police and fire chiefs and the city chief financial officer, are the only city employees he does not have authority over. He said he plans to meet as soon as possible with all community leaders.

"Our citizens, our community groups, our legislative delegation, there's a lot of people I need to be meeting with to get some sense of where we need to go," he said.

Some in the city have described Perez's style as 'his way or the highway.' Segarra is not one of those people but said he plans a different style of leadership.

"I am a consensus builder, more a collaborator as well. I see to try to collaborate with folks in terms of developing the best policies and best practices and moving the city forward," he said.

Meanwhile, the hearing on motions in the Perez case was postponed. His lawyer has until next Tuesday to file motions that will include a request for a new trial on the argument that mistakes were made during the trial that resulted in his conviction. This is routine procedure on the way to filing for an appeal.