Vernon Housing Authority Board Appointment Center Of Dispute

VERNON, CT — Vernon officials and the Vernon Housing Authority continue to be at odds over the town council's rejection of a proposed member of the authority's board of commissioners and the matter has spilled into a series of legal wrangling.

The scenario is outlined vividly in a series of documents obtained by Patch via a Freedom of Information request.

The dispute centers over Vernon resident Ian Mills, who in August was chosen by housing authority tenants to fill the board of commissioners vacancy. Documents show a laundry list of accusations of "disruptive behavior" on the part of Mills at the Vernon Senior Center.

When contacted about the case Monday, Vernon Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said the initial notice of the appointment was submitted after a statutory deadline but was sent to the council anyway out of "professional courtesy to the housing authority."

Mill's name was on the appointment, and at its Aug. 18 meeting, the council voted 10-0, with two abstentions, against it, minutes show. Purcaro said the rejection was based on "repeated disruptive behavior" on the part of Mills at the Vernon Senior Center and he added Mills "was not in good standing with the town."

One reason cited was a complaint filed by Vernon Senior Center Director Maureen Gabriele in 2018 regarding about $200 worth of damage in the senior center billiards room. In town correspondence, Gabriele said that an outlet in the room was considered off limits to members and was covered to discourage use. Mills is accused of removing a sign covering the outlet to plug in an electronic device anyway, according to internal town memos. He is accused of damaging a wall in the process, documents show.

Purcaro said Mills never paid for the damage, despite a request from Gabriele.

According to other 2018 correspondence, Gabriele told Purcaro that Mills was involved in repeated verbal disputes with other seniors in the billiards room.

The rejection did not set well with Mills and and the housing authority.

Mills sent a letter to Purcaro saying that the town, per state statute, does not have the authority to reject a tenant commissioner elected by housing authority residents.

The town also received a letter from housing authority lawyer Michael Wrona. The letter claimed the council was required to authorize the town clerk to swear Mills in and not conduct a vote on the appointment.

Vernon Town Attorney Louis Spadaccini said in a letter to the authority that state law requires certain deadlines to be met — notification of a tenant commissioner election 60 days prior to the expiration of the current term, and the election itself within 90 days of that notice. He said if the deadlines pass, a town's "appointing authority" is to make the final decision.

That's the council.

Spadaccini, said the tenant commissioner vacancy was as of Feb. 28.

Purcaro called the letters from Mills and Wrona "bullying tactics" and said the council's decision is legal and binding.

He said the town is prepared to consider other candidates for a council appointment.