Dems, GOP Fight In Southington Over Appointment

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington's town council Monday appointed a familiar face to a resurrected executive position at town hall, but the move did not come without controversy.

It came amid tense cries of a "good old boy" network, political partisanship and accusations of pushing through a new position on taxpayers.

The Republican-controlled council voted 5-3, with one abstention, to appoint Southington Corporation Counsel Alex Ricciardone to become the town's deputy town manager.

The vote to appoint was along party lines with Republican William Dziedzic abstaining. He is a cousin of Ricciardone.

Ricciardone was once the town attorney and, last December, he was hired by the council to become corporation counsel, a new position at the time.

Monday's council vote promoted Ricciardone to the second-ranked appointed position in Southington, working under Southington Town Manager Mark J. Sciota, who once served as deputy manager himself.

Sciota cited a good working relationship with Ricciardone and a high level of experience he brings both in the legal and administrative realms of the post.

According to Sciota, the town hasn't had a deputy town manager since he held the post prior to his appointment as town manager in 2017.

"There's a symmetry there that is necessary for someone who is in a number two position," Sciota said of Ricciardone's qualifications.

"I do think its a very important position and I do think that I have the right person that I'm recommending," Sciota said. "I do think that attorney Ricciardone would be perfect for this position."

Sciota said the title change wouldn't mean any budgetary revisions this fiscal year, but it might require compensation adjustments next fiscal year.

Dems, GOP debate

Republicans and Democrats all agreed by consensus Ricciardone is a qualified choice for deputy town manager.

But Democrats ripped their GOP colleagues on the council, which is controlled 6-3 by Republicans, for the process to getting Ricciardone's appointment on the agenda Monday and for making a decision.

Democratic Councilman Christopher J. Palmieri said the appointment doesn't dissuade any perceptions of a "good old boys" network at work.

He said the way the appointment was put on the agenda, as a last-minute item and then a quick vote, was wrong.

"This has nothing to do with Alex. It's more of a lack of process for this moving forward. That there's no application," said Palmieri. "I just cant see moving forward with appointing someone without any due diligence with our department heads."

Other Democrats agreed.

"I don't think it shows fairness and I think it just shows that we are trying to do this very quickly," said Democratic Councilperson Valerie DePaulo.

Added Democratic Councilman Jack Perry: "I like attorney Ricciardone, but again, we're supposed to be operating what's best for Southington and rushing this onto the agenda is not what's best for Southington."

Republicans defended the process and the hire, touting Ricciardone's ability and supporting the endorsement of Sciota, who brought the issue of a deputy town manager before the board.

"This is a position that is basically the right-hand person for the town manager. I would say who better to know, best for this role, than the town manager?" said Republican Paul Chaplinski Jr., the council's vice chairman.

"His recommendation would carry a lot of weight for the appointment that we have."

Southington Council Chairperson Victoria Triano, a Republican, said it was best to appoint Ricciardone now rather than later and close to elections.

That's because, she said, the situation could become even more volatile amid the campaign season, which Triano said wouldn't be fair to Ricciardone.

"I believe that Alex is already doing this job. He just doesn't have the title. I believe that going forward, in the next few months, he'll be able to take a lot of work off the shoulders of the town manager and he would be able to function fully as the assistant town manager," Triano said.

"I believe its the time now to do it. Not to put it off and have it become some kind of political football."

Conflict?

One issue raised briefly by Palmieri had to do with Dziedzic's relationship with Ricciardone, as he is a first cousin to the deputy town manager.

Dziedzic did abstain from the vote to appoint his cousin, but he did vote on two prior motions regarding the debate, which wasn't on his cousin, but on tabling the issue and on moving the appointment to a vote.

Prior to the council's vote, it shot down Palmieri's motion to table the issue for further discussion with 6 "no" votes and 3 "yes" votes. Dziedzic voted "no" to table.

Then, a later motion to move the question failed because a 2/3 majority wasn't in favor of forcing a vote and ending debate. Dziedzic voted "yes" to end discussion and move the question.

Thursday, Southington Democrats issued a statement protesting Dziedzic's lack of recusal from the issue. Had he recused himself, Dziedzic would have left the room, which he did not.

“The fact that Mr. Dziedzic did not recuse himself from the dias when a vote was being made on his first cousin for one of the most important roles in our town government should be troublesome to the Southington residents and going down a road devoid of transparency,” said Erin Cowles, chairperson of the Southington Democratic Town Committee, in a statement.

From Dec. 29, 2022: 'Southington Council Finalizes Town's Legal Team'