Mallozzi: 'We Can Do Better'

At the May 18 Town Council meeting, I was shocked to learn that certain members of our Town Government had failed to disclose a major arbitration damage award of $650,000 against the town in connection with the Lakeview Avenue bridge project.  

This sobering financial information had been available since February and should have been shared with all members of town government.  The chairman of the Town Council knew about it on March 28, but failed to tell the Town Council before their crucial final vote on the Town budget on April 13.  The even voted to bond the award a few weeks ago.  This appears to be a violation of the Town Charter.

The discussion at the special Town Council meeting this Monday was obviously skewed to bring attention to the cost of the legal strategy recommended to and approved by the Board of Selectmen.  Please note that we, the , were defending the Town against a one million dollar plus charge.  We followed a professionally advised legal strategy brought to us by our , CFO, department head and town attorney that we were told would protect the Town against our adversary’s claim. We lost in arbitration and are justifiably outraged by that decision. That was not our intention.

The main concern continues to be with the un-resolved question regarding how could $650,000 for damages to a contractor have been paid without the approval of the town bodies?  Further, one would have to question the legality of the action taken by the Board of Finance; they voted unanimously in favor of the bond. These questions still demand answers.

The outcome of the Town Council meeting was predictable — a public official takes “full responsibility," promises he will never do it again and a special committee is formed to investigate the process break-down to make sure it never happens again. Like many of you, I am tired of this scenario. 

 My promise to you: as your First Selectman, I will never spend money that has not been appropriated by all Town bodies. We can do better, you deserve better and I will do better.