Why is this an important story? Well, the truth be know, a New Fairfield rumor has it ... that a similar situation is being "COVERED UP" by the Board of Selectman and Director of Finance in an Executive Session as a personnel issue. The First Selectman has entered into an agreement to obfuscate this issue.
This potential cover up is being treated as a personnel issue. The BOS of February 25, 2010 minutes reflect an Executive Session in which a discussion about a settlement of pending litigation was reviewed. Hardly a 'personnel issue' as defined by CGS FOIA. Here's the surprise, after providing an FOIA to elected officials and Director of Finance I was denied access to the "settlement agreement" that was voted on during the Executive Session. The individual in question has resigned, which makes the "settlement agreement and confidential agreement" an FOIA discoverable document. The FOIA Sec. 1-214a below is very clear.
THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Sec. 1-214a. Disclosure of public agency termination, suspension or separation agreement containing confidentiality provision. Any agreement entered into by any public agency, as defined in section 1-200, with an employee or personal services contractor providing for the termination, suspension or separation from employment of such employee or the termination or suspension of the provision of personal services by such contractor, as the case may be, that contains a confidentiality provision that prohibits or restricts such public agency from disclosing the existence of the agreement or the cause or causes for such termination, suspension or separation including, but not limited to, alleged or substantiated sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation or sexual assault by such employee or contractor, shall be subject to public disclosure under this chapter. (P.A. 06-132, §1.)
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My FOIA requests (Jay Waterman, Monika Thiel and Susan Chapman) were directed to the Town Attorney and my inquiry as to the where abouts of the 'settlement agreement' were answered with we don't know where the agreement is. An real important point is that the individual in question has resigned as a Town employee and Sec. 1-214a is very clear. Stay turned for updates!!
Stamford city employee charged with embezzlement
Posted on 02/25/2010
Accused of stealing $13,000
STAMFORD
By TOM EVANS
Hour Staff Writer
A city employee was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly embezzling money from a debit account for a housing code enforcement agency.
Wendy Greco, 40, of 55 Plymouth Road in Stamford, allegedly used about $13,000 from the account of the Connecticut Association of Housing Code Enforcement Officials, Inc., where she served as treasurer since 2008.
According to Sgt. Peter diSpagna, head of the crimes against property unit of the Stamford Police Department, Greco was arrested and charged with first-degree larceny, then posted the $50,000 bond.
Greco, who works as an office support specialist in the city's health department in the Government Center, is due for arraignment in Stamford Superior Court on March 9.
"This was a run-of-the-mill embezzlement," diSpagna said. "There were no surprises, and everyone involved has been very cooperative. We've been involved in the case since day one."
Greco served under Ronald Miller, president of the CAHCEO, since Miller was elected president of that group in 2008. Miller is also the city health inspector.
Calls to Greco's office phone number went unanswered on Thursday, while Miller did not respond to a voice-mail message left at his office number.
The CAHCEO falls under the guidance the director of health and human services. Dr. Johnnie Lee, who steps down from that position on Friday, did not return a message left at his office on Thursday afternoon.
When contacted for a statement on this case, Mayor Michael Pavia said he "has declined to comment on this matter at this time."
According to its Web site, the Connecticut Association of Housing Code Enforcement Officials was founded and incorporated on May 17, 1971, by code enforcement official in cities and towns across the state who were responsible for enforcing housing code standards in their respected municipalities.
"In 37 years of existence the CAHCEO organization has grown to maintain representation and contacts in all 169 cities and towns throughout the State of Connecticut and has a membership base of over 130 active members," Miller wrote on the Web site. "The membership receives training and education four times each year in a variety of courses that range from building safety to public health. The quarterly training has elevated the housing standards that we enforce to new awareness. The educational training has also made our membership one of the most professionally trained and skilled code enforcement organizations in the New England Region."
Greco was named the city's Employee of the Month in September, 2007.
