New London — The City Council is losing another member.

With an impending move out of the city, City Council President Don Venditto will resign from the council next month and leave fellow Democrat John Satti to take his place as president.

Venditto said he’s leaving his job at Sonalyts in Waterford after more than two decades to take on a new position with Farmington Displays Inc., an exhibit and event production company. He said he already has a buyer for the Gardner Avenue home owned by him and his wife, Sara.

In his second term, Venditto said the move out of the city will help cut down on his commute. By City Charter, Venditto cannot serve on the council and live outside the city.

“I feel like I gave it 110 percent, took my liaison positions seriously and I felt like I put in the time required,” Venditto said. “I don’t hesitate to offer my opinion and a lot of people approached me to tell me they appreciated that. I’m happy that I did it, unhappy I have to resign early.”

Venditto is the second councilor to leave this year following the resignation of Anthony Nolan, who resigned when he was elected to serve as the state representative for the 39th District. His seat was filled by Earl J. Wilson Sr.

Venditto is known on the council for his meticulous research and well-thought-out votes, said Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Martha Marx.

“He has served New London well. He should be proud,” Marx said.

Marx and Venditto were elected together to the council in 2015. Both were newcomers to the political arena at the time. Venditto was nominated as a candidate from the floor of a Democratic Town Committee meeting by fellow Councilor Efrain Dominguez and became one of the high vote-getters in the following two elections.

Venditto said he’d decided to jump into the political arena with a pledge that if elected, his goal was to make the city and all of its citizens and businesses his primary objectives, using his decades of business experience and common sense to help move the city forward.

New London has long faced the challenge of hosting many tax-exempt properties but a recent surge in economic activity is offering some relief to the tax base, Venditto said.

“Anyone paying attention can see developers are investing millions and millions in our downtown. They see the opportunity,” Venditto said. "I think three to five years from now people will be shocked to see how far New London has come. I’m happy to have been involved over the past three years.”

Council President Pro Tempore Satti will, by city charter, move to the president’s position after Venditto officially resigns on June 17. There is no provision in the charter for an election of an officer on an interim basis, Satti said.

Satti said that while his votes haven’t always aligned with Venditto’s, the two shared similar fiscally conservative mindsets. Satti said Venditto’s strong suit was always on the economic development front and he will be a “big loss” in that regard.

Marx said that she has made a recommendation to the council on a suitable replacement but it will be up to the council on how to choose. She declined to name her recommendation.

“We have a lot of very fine and qualified Democrats willing to serve,” Marx said.

The council is made up of six Democrats and Republican Martin Olsen.

g.smith@theday.com