LTE: Response to Gerber’s Abhorrent Conduct at Bd of Selectmen Meeting

To the Editor:

Last night's Board of Selectmen meeting took a deeply disturbing turn when First Selectman Bill Gerber launched a personal and inappropriate verbal attack. His comments were not only slanderous, but he also publicly disclosed a low-income family member's application for assistance, which is confidential information protected under the law.

The fact that Mr. Gerber would humiliate a senior citizen on public access television who applied for public assistance, for purely political gain, underscores a serious lack of integrity and basic human decency.

The individual referenced by Mr. Gerber was approved for financial assistance through an independent committee process where applicants' names aren’t included to protect their privacy.

No public official has involvement in that process. Mr. Gerber’s accusation that I somehow manipulated the process was knowingly false and malicious.

Despite the applicant being approved through an independent and confidential process, the assistance was held by the Town, clearly for political reasons.

Mr. Gerber also falsely stated, I can only assume to sensationalize his story, that the reimbursement would be to me, "Brenda Kupchick."

Mr. Gerber’s conduct during the meeting was abusive, personal, and a violation of the basic standards of decency and decorum expected from a public official, and it was a breach of confidentiality and FOIA laws. His actions were a disgraceful abuse of power.

I expect some will try to shift the narrative by attacking me for my emotional reaction. I am human. When your family is targeted in a calculated public ambush, it’s deeply hurtful.

To be clear: I will not be intimidated into silence. I will continue to stand up for all residents, especially those who need assistance and deserve to be treated with dignity and not have their private circumstances used as political weapons.

Mr. Gerber owes the public an apology, and he needs to seriously consider whether he can continue to serve with the integrity and professionalism the office of first selectman demands.

Brenda Kupchick, Fairfield Selectwoman