Norwich — The city saved $225,000 in salaries, benefits and expenses for the full year that Norwich Public Utilities General Manager John Bilda spent as acting city manager and continues to save by having an NPU program coordinator serve as the city manager's office assistant, Bilda reported Tuesday to utilities commissioners.

Bilda reported the figures Tuesday at the request of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners.

Bilda served as acting city manager from Feb. 3, 2015, through Jan. 31, 2016, receiving only his NPU annual salary of $188,000. He also used his NPU cellphone and his NPU expense accounts for mileage, business lunches, civic events and even office supplies, joking that he prefers No. 2 pencils and bought them on NPU's dime.

NPU officials told the board that NPU ratepayers did not bear additional costs during Bilda's year at City Hall, as the expenses were already in NPU's budget. Other NPU administrators assumed some of Bilda's utility duties during the year.

Mayor Deberey Hinchey said Wednesday the city owes thanks to NPU for more than monetary savings.

“From my perspective, the cost saving is important, but what (Bilda) brought was stability in a period of transition that enabled us to take the time to find the right person to bring the city forward,” Hinchey said Wednesday. “John brought with him institutional knowledge and a great management style. And it's just what we needed at the time.”

In addition to calculating the savings to the city, NPU picked up several expenses that bring the combined benefit to the city closer to $300,000, Bilda said. NPU covered about $1,000 per month in miscellaneous expenses. And NPU hired a consultant to coordinate the city manager search process at a cost of $17,000. The consultant arranged meetings with the city's executive search firm and tracked the entire hiring process that eventually led to the City Council's selection of former Newington Town Manager John Salomone as the new city manager.

The savings to the city are continuing past Bilda's return to NPU on Feb. 1. In December, Bilda brought NPU Program Coordinator Jeanne Kurasz to the city manager's office to fill the vacant office executive secretary position. Kurasz assisted Bilda as office secretary and coordinator and continues in that role for Salomone, saving the city an estimated $5,000 per month in salary, plus benefits. Bilda included the first three months of that cost in his report Tuesday.

As in Bilda's case, Kurasz is being paid only her NPU salary of about $90,000, plus NPU benefits.

The city manager's budget had a salary of $127,500 for the city manager, $63,000 for the executive secretary, and $90,000 for benefits for the two positions. Salomone's salary is $150,000 per year.

Bilda said both parties benefited during the year of dual roles, as the city and the city-owned utility drew closer together. As acting city manager, Bilda ushered in new computer programs that better connect the two entities, and a new phone system similar to NPU's system is expected to improve city government efficiencies.

“It strengthened our relationship,” Bilda said. “We're finding ways to foster better coordination. I certainly have a better understanding of the way the city works.”

Bilda estimated he worked 95 percent of the time at City Hall — bringing his NPU computer and work with him — and spent 80 percent of his work time on city business. He also attended numerous after-hours meetings in both roles.

“It was way more than 40 hours,” he said Wednesday.

Kurasz said Wednesday she initially spent about 75 percent of her time on NPU business while working at City Hall. But since Salomone's arrival on Feb. 1, she estimated the split time has been even.

Salomone on Wednesday said the city owes a big thanks to NPU for both carrying the load of managing the city and for bearing the cost for the year. He said Bilda has helped him tremendously in the transition as the city's top administrator.

He said Bilda offered to allow Kurasz to remain at City Hall until he hires a new administrative assistant — which he plans to do within the next three to four weeks. Salomone said he wanted time to determine the exact needs for the position, which will be more than a secretary but not quite an assistant city manager.

“I'm very grateful that NPU has agreed to assist the town and has a very fine administrator, who has assisted me,” Salomone said. “And he graciously offered Jeanne and I graciously accepted. Ultimately I need to reshape the office to what I need.”

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday