Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto is holding an open door session Thursday and she is inviting the public to come ask questions about an infomercial the city is funding.
The informal session is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 30) in a hallway conference room on the second floor of Derby City Hall.
Derby is paying $19,800 for a five-minute segment within “Communities of Distinction,” an hour-long infomercial that airs on various cable channels.
Dugatto said the infomercial is part of an effort to market and re-brand Derby.
The Valley Indy published stories on the infomercial Monday and Tuesday pointing out the infomercial is being funded by taxpayers, not through grant money, as indicated by the mayor in September.
In addition, the company Derby is using is headed by a businessman whose previous company faced accusations from the Florida attorney general’s office.
Click here for Monday’s story from the Valley Indy.
Click here for Tuesday’s story.
In response to the Valley Indy’s story, Ken Hughes, a former Republican Aldermen, raised questions as to whether the money being spent on the infomercial was approved by the city’s tax board and whether the expenditure complies with Derby’s competitive bidding process.
“Communities of Distinction” infomercials are hosted by retired NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
Click here to read public reaction to Tuesday’s story on Facebook.
Dugatto regularly holds open door sessions on Thursdays in Derby City Hall at 1 Elizabeth St.
The meetings are usually held in the public meeting room on the second floor, but a separate meeting has already been scheduled in that room.
The Thursday open door session is within another conference room on the second floor.
