NEWINGTON - The Town Council inked an employment contract for newly appointed Town Manager Tanya Lane, following a near-two hour long executive session Thursday night.

       The signing of the agreement finalizes the hiring of Lane, who served as Town Clerk in Newington for 14 years.

       Under the agreement-approved unanimously by the Council-Lane will receive a $137,000 base salary, along with relocation expenses and up to $5,000 in reimbursements for costs associated with housing.

       Lane is required, per the Town Charter, to move to Newington within the first 6 months of her employment as Town Manager.

       The contract also includes a $500 per month allowance for the purchase, lease, and maintenance of a vehicle.

       Severance pay-contingent upon termination-is six month’s at her regular compensation rate.

       â€�"It was a long, long process,” Lane said after the meeting. â€�"I’m glad it’s over.”

       Councilors expressed similar sentiments.

       â€�"This is a major hurdle,” said Councilor Dave Nagel. â€�"Now we can move on, and hopefully come to a consensus on the many things that will be on our plate.”

       But residents Gary Bolles and Michael Fox-the only members of the public in attendance-sounded off on the fact that the contract was signed after Lane’s appointment, saying that the agreement should have been in place before.

       Their comments reflected concerns cited by Councilors Carol Anest and Maureen Klett, who -along with Councilor Diane Serra-dissented in the 6-3 vote to appoint Lane weeks prior.

       After Thursday’s executive session, Councilor Gail Budrejko expressed support for Lane, but admitted that she wishes â€�"that the process was done differently”, pointing to what she refers to as a â€�"missed opportunity” for â€�"more dialogue on specific elements” of the contract.

       Klett mentioned a discussion â€�"stalemate” existing at some point, but Mayor Roy Zartarian declined to provide specifics, which are subject to executive session.

       â€�"Not everybody got exactly what they wanted,” he said during the meeting. â€�"That’s what negotiations are all about. We came to a consensus.”

       Lane-currently a resident of Westbrook, Connecticut-was tapped to fill the role on an interim basis when former Town Manager John Salomone resigned early this year. During that time she also fulfilled Town Clerk duties, and has said that she will perform the dual role until someone is hired to fill her old position.

       Lane stepped into the role as both the annual State of the Town Address and the budget process were approaching.

       She has already set her sights on tackling the town’s numerous building projects, starting with the long-sought Town Hall renovation.

       A bonding plan that shifts the CIP appropriation structure away from the yearly $6.3 million-a combination of debt service and pay-as-you go costs-to 5.8 percent of the overall budget headlined her State of the Town Address, and she reiterated the point at a meet and greet event last week at Middlewoods senior home.

       She hopes to coordinate the Town Hall project with an expansion of the library in an effort to prevent redundancy and create collaboration.