Fairfield Names Kathryn Gussen Chief Operating Officer

The town appoints Gussen to the position vacated after a former official resigned following an internal audit of a vehicle expense.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in People

Fairfield Names Kathryn Gussen Chief Operating Officer

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The Town of Fairfield has appointed Kathryn Gussen as its chief operating officer, filling a position created by the 2025 town charter revision. The post was vacated in September 2025 after an internal audit found a former official had expensed a $140,974.37 Chevrolet Suburban.

Why it matters

The appointment fills a role intended to drive cost-effective operational efficiencies and coordinate town departments as well as state and federal agencies. It follows an audit controversy over public spending that residents of Fairfield may track as the new position takes shape.

The vehicle expense totaled $140,974.37, combining a $73,687.85 base price from Maritime Chevrolet with $67,286.52 in upfit and modifications by NorComCT. The source material does not indicate whether further financial review is planned.

The players

Kathryn Gussen

Gussen previously served as executive director of the private equity firm Viking Capital and holds a J.D. and an LL.M. in taxation.

Connie Saxl

Saxl serves as the Town of Fairfield's Internal Auditor and delivered the audit report that identified the vehicle expense.

The details

Kathryn Gussen was appointed as the first chief operating officer under the 2025 town charter revision that created the position. A September 5 internal audit report by Internal Auditor Connie Saxl identified the Chevrolet Suburban expense, which the Town Republican Committee raised in connection with the so-called pink voucher system.

September 2025: A former Fairfield official resigned as chief operating officer after the internal audit revealed the vehicle expense.
September 5, 2025: Internal Auditor Connie Saxl delivered the audit report identifying the expense.
November 11, 2026: The town issued a press release announcing Gussen's appointment.

Market Landscape

The appointment comes as Fairfield's pink voucher system, under which five police vehicles were purchased to replace totaled vehicles, draws scrutiny from the Town Republican Committee. The new chief operating officer position was created by the 2025 charter revision to oversee town projects.

Fairfield residents will see a new chief operating officer coordinating town departments and state and federal agency interactions. The position is charged with driving cost-effective operational efficiencies in town projects.

The takeaway

Residents can watch how the new chief operating officer handles oversight of town spending, since the position was created in response to governance changes. Checking town meeting agendas and audit disclosures can show how these efficiencies develop over time.