Opinion: Gross Mischaracterizations of ARPA Fund Application

The following opinion essay is from the Fairfield Republican Town Committee:

Fairfield, CT — During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of Fairfield received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, a portion of which was dedicated to assisting residents through a COVID Relief Fund. The application process was impartial and blind. Applicants worked with the Town’s Department of Human & Social Services, submitted required financial documentation, and all identifying information was redacted before review by an independent COVID Relief Fund Board.

One such redacted application came from a low-income family member of Selectwoman Kupchick. At the time of review, the Board had no knowledge of the applicant’s identity or familial connection. The applicant met the eligibility requirements and was approved to receive $5,000 to reimburse the cost of a furnace replacement.

The voucher for this approved application was sent from Human & Social Services to the Finance Department for processing. Despite all procedural approvals, First Selectman Gerber and Interim CFO David Becker denied the payment, launched an investigation, and initiated an audit. The audit found no wrongdoing or irregularity with the application. Yet, the payment was never made to the applicant.

Instead of accepting the integrity of the original process, Mr. Becker and Mr. Gerber have chosen to politicize a private confidential matter, wrongly suggesting Selectwoman Kupchick is is on a “revenge tour” simply because she followed up on constituent concerns and asked for a independent review of Mr. Becker’s family’s business ties to the Town. This accusation is not only unfounded, but an inappropriate politicization of a confidential matter involving a private citizen and an attempt to deflect from legitimate ethical questions.

What is more concerning is Mr. Becker’s own alleged conflict of interest. While no direct violation may have been found in the recent Palmieri bid review, his family's substantial contractual ties to the Town raise legitimate concerns. The "appearance of impropriety" alone is enough to erode public trust, and many residents have voiced these concerns directly to Town officials.

Newly rebid contracts have been given to the Becker family business since this investigation concluded.

Governance requires not only legality but also integrity and public trust. Is it acceptable for the interim CFO’s family to hold hundreds of thousands of dollars in Town contracts while he oversees operational and financial decisions? Now that he is COO and has the Project Management Team and DPW Department reporting to him, is that any improvement? Perhaps it’s time to review and strengthen our Code of Ethics.

Worse still, a deeply inappropriate and personal verbal attack was made by First Selectman Gerber about this situation, an act unbecoming of his office and contrary to the standards of basic decency. His administration has been marked by high turnover (16 people in Town Hall), particularly among women, with another (female) department head resigning just yesterday.

It is time for Fairfield to reestablish trust, professionalism, and ethical leadership in Town Hall.

For the good of the Town and its residents and given the alarming display of emotional instability and failure to uphold decorum in governance, First Selectman Bill Gerber should resign.