Ansonia Aldermen voted unanimously Tuesday pay $75,000 to settle worker’s compensation claims and several labor grievances with James Hooker, a public works employee who retired last year.
Hooker, 53, retired from the city’s public works department last December, after working there 26 years. He was earning $25.44 per hour at the time — $51,625 in the last full year of work before he retired.
He was suspended without pay for 30 days in 2012 after taking a snow plow from a junk heap at the public works complex and selling it for scrap. Hooker was initially charged with a low-level larceny offense, but it was dropped after a judge granted him accelerated rehabilitation, a special form of probation.
He was also one of several city employees who received car tax receipts from former city tax collector Bridget Bostic which said Hooker had paid car taxes on three of his six vehicles when, in fact, he had not.
The documentation enabled Hooker and the others to renew the registrations on their vehicles even though they owed local taxes. The practice, after being exposed by the Valley Indy, led to Bostic’s resignation.
Though Hooker retired last year, he was pursuing a half-dozen worker’s compensation claims against the city linked to on-the-job injuries he suffered between 2004 and 2014, as well as a handful of labor grievances.
Click here for more background from a previous story.
The city and Hooker have been discussing a settlement of the claims since at least last September.
Hooker’s lawyer, Laura Mooney, had initially offered to settle Hooker’s worker’s compensation claims for $140,000.
The city responded with an offer of $40,000.
The Aldermen also had a series of closed-door executive sessions on the subject, something allowed by law if the discussion involves pending litigation or a specific person.
After a brief executive session June 9, the Aldermen authorized Marini to present Hooker’s lawyer with the $75,000 settlement offer.
On Tuesday the Aldermen discussed the settlement behind closed doors for about five minutes before voting unanimously, and without discussion, to authorize Mayor David Cassetti to sign the settlement agreement.
Of the $75,000 total, $15,000, or 20 percent, represents legal fees, according to a settlement agreement between Hooker and the city.
Cassetti said after the meeting the settlement will save the city from any future liability linked to Hooker’s on-the-job injuries.
“We’re off the hook,” Cassetti said. “No pun intended.”
The Valley Indy left a message Wednesday with Mooney, Hooker’s lawyer.
