Profane Outburst At Fairfield Parks Meeting Came From RTM Leader

FAIRFIELD, CT — The mystery caller who shouted a profanity during Wednesday’s teleconference meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission has been identified.

Representative Town Meeting Majority Leader Jill Vergara confirmed Thursday that she was responsible for the outburst, but said she was under the impression her line was muted when she used the expletive.

“I thought I was in the privacy of my own home and that nobody would ever hear that,” said Vergara, a Democrat who represents District 7.

Leading up to the outburst, the commission had been discussing whether it would set a problematic precedent for a tree on Sherman Green that had been donated by a local business to be lit year-round. The tree, contributed by Saugatuck Sweets Owner Al DiGuido in 2019, has been a source of some tension in recent weeks. Chair Scott Walker expressed concern that if other businesses were allowed to donate trees, Sherman Green could become “a mini forest.”

“At some point we would say there’s simply no more room,” Walker said.

Then, a voice spoke that did not belong to any of the commission members.

“There’s simply no room? (Expletive), that’s the whole point!” the speaker, later identified as Vergara, said.

Walker responded by threatening to adjourn the meeting if there was another outburst. Commission member Chris McCoy addressed the caller directly.

“Your actions are a disgrace, they’re an embarrassment, and we will find out who you were,” he said.

Vergara said she was surprised by McCoy’s statement.

“Clearly it was an accidental outburst,” she said.

Vergara noted the meeting agenda said any members of the public calling in to the teleconference would be muted, “unless otherwise permitted to speak.”

“This was an accident and it was an invasion of my privacy,” she said. “… I feel like someone should be apologizing to me for putting me in this position.”

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said Thursday she had received calls about the profanity.

“Frankly, I’m very disappointed,” said Kupchick, a Republican, noting Vergara recently penned a letter to the editor calling for civility in public discourse. “… I expect our residents, most especially our elected officials, to always behave with decorum during public meetings.”

When asked if the town had a censure mechanism in place, Kupchick said she intended to discuss with the town attorney whether Fairfield has the ability to censure Vergara.

“How could I be censured for something that was supposed to be in the privacy of my own home?” Vergara said. “… To threaten censuring me for that kind of private comment is not fair.”

Vergara added that because the outburst Wednesday was audible, it appears the town has the capability to allow public comment at teleconference meetings. In the months since Fairfield switched to remote government meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic, many elected bodies have allowed public comment primarily via email. Vergara said she would like to see spoken public comment return to meetings, even when they are held over teleconference.