DERBY — Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto broke her silence Monday on her decision to fire the city’s director — by calling the police.
The mayor filed a complaint “asserting financial irregularities by former Derby Senior Center Director Sarah Muoio,” according to a statement from Derby police.
No dollar figures attached to the city’s allegation were made public.
Muoio is being represented by lawyer Dominick Thomas of Derby. He said he could not comment on the matter.
The Valley Indy reached out to Muoio Monday afternoon for comment.
Dugatto fired Muoio Jan. 21. The mayor was criticized because Muoio was mourning the death of her father, and Dugatto would not explain her decision.
Dugatto said Monday she was concerned with Muoio’s job performance as senior center director. She said the senior center building on Main Street is falling into bad shape and Muoio was not doing enough to address the issue.
In addition, the mayor said Muoio had trouble communicating with her office.
But those pre-firing issues are not reflected in Muoio’s personnel file, which was released by the city last week. Personnel files are usually where cities store commendations or disciplinary actions with employees.
Dugatto said she did not suspect financial irregularities prior to her decision to fire Muoio, but had questions about finances within the center not directly under the city’s jurisdiction.
The Derby Senior Center’s budget is funded by the city. There was previously a nonprofit group — Derby Senior Citizens Center, Inc. — connected to the organization, with its own board of directors.
There is, according to Derby city officials, an internal revenue and expense stream within the senior center’s organization not under the purview of Derby government. Questions are being raised about that non-city account, according to officials.
The senior center’s nonprofit status was revoked by the Internal Revenue Service for failing to file a Form 990, 990-EZ, 990‑N, or 990-PF for three consecutive years, according to Guidestar, an organization that tracks nonprofit groups.
An independent auditor examined Derby Senior Center “procedures” after Muoio was let go.
Dugatto would not comment on what irregularities were allegedly found, only that it was enough to get the police involved.
“There was a separation between Sarah and the city,” Dugatto said. “And then, when you start getting into it, there was something with the records. I don’t know. I’m not an accountant. So we bring people in. And then there’s reason enough to send it to the police. Basically that is the story.”
The Valley Indy has a freedom of information request pending with the city for access to emails exchanged between the mayor’s office and the senior center director.
Dugatto issued a 28-word prepared statement to the press Monday:
“Based on our review with our independent auditor of the Derby Senior Center records. The matter has been turned over to the Derby Police Dept. for further investigation.”
Derby police Lt. Justin Stanko then released a statement:
“The Derby Police Department received a criminal complaint from the City of Derby asserting financial irregularities by former Derby Senior Center Director Sarah Muoio. Derby Police Department detectives will work with City officials to conduct a comprehensive investigation into these allegations.”
Muoio was hired as senior center director in 2012.
A few Valley Indy readers on Facebook said the mayor’s move was motivated by public relations — that she had to come up with something to justify the firing.
The mayor said it is not so.
“I don’t go looking for things and I’m not political. There is a reason,” Dugatto said.
“There’s a criminal investigation. As to the why and when, I have to protect the city. I have to protect all the programs in the city.”
Aldermen Art Gerckens, who represents the city’s Second Ward, said the mayor isn’t politically vindictive.
“I don’t know the woman from the senior center but sincerely hope that everything turns out okay for her and her family,” Gerckens said via email. “With that said, I’ve never known the mayor to be overtly political and I trust she uses good judgement when making her decisions.”
