Valley Independent Sentinel

Derby Alderman: Only Elected Officials Get The Big Table!

by Eugene Driscoll | Jan 27, 2012 3:07 pm

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Posted to: Derby

A newly-elected Derby Alderman took issue Thursday with the seating arrangement of elected officials at public meetings.

Alderman Arthur Gerckens, an independent who was elected on the Democratic line in November, said having an attorney and a recording secretary sitting on either side of Mayor Anthony Staffieri sends the wrong message to the public and is disrespectful to the elected officials.

Staffieri sits at the center of a long table, facing the public. The table seats 12 people — nine Aldermen, the mayor, the city’s corporation counsel and a recording secretary who tapes the meetings and takes minutes.

Gerckens and Democrat Stephen Iacuone sit at the head of the table on either side. The arrangement causes them to have their profiles displayed to the public — while everyone else at the table faces the public directly.

“I’m not seeing the beautiful faces of the public and the citizens of Derby. I suspect Mr. Iacuone has the same problem,” Gerckens said at Thursday’s Derby Aldermen meeting.

Gerckens said the table should be reserved for the politicians.

“I believe that the nine members of this board did earn the opportunity to sit at the big table,” Gerckens said.

Gerckens observation drew applause from some supporters in the audience — and a loud groan from Dan Waleski, an 87-year-old Derby resident who has been attending city meetings since he was 14.

“I appreciate the deep interest that the gentleman has given this subject and given this city, but . . . the arrangement we have here is something we’ve had for years and years and years and has worked out very well,” Waleski said.

Ron Sill, a Democrat and president of the Board of Aldermen, said the seating arrangements have been that way “forever.”

Sill said the Charter says “the Board of Aldermen have the right to arrange the proceedings at a Board of Aldermen meeting.”

Gerckens stood up from his seat to address his fellow Aldermen — something Mayor Anthony Staffieri also did.

The mayor said Joseph Coppola, the city’s corporation counsel, isn’t seated at the Aldermanic table for a “joy ride,” but is there to “keep the city focused, making sure they (the Aldermen) do things correctly.”

“Where this is coming from, I think, is a joke,” Staffieri said.

Gerckens responded by saying having an attorney seated so prominently can be intimidating to members of the public, because Coppola is “the face of law.”

That can be intimidating for the average Derby resident who simply wants to talk at an Aldermen meeting.

Also, Coppola is tall.

“ . . . And he’s a big guy, too,” Gerckens said. “I remember the first time I spoke. He’s an imposing figure. He could possibly sway what you want to get out.”

As to whether Coppola scares people, Staffieri pointed out Coppola has five children — perhaps insinuating that he’s good with kids.

Carmen DiCenso, a newly-elected Democrat, said he doesn’t care where Coppola sits. However, he said there might be too much “whispering” going on between Coppola and Staffieri.

DiCenso said the full board should hear any and all questions the mayor has for Coppola — and the answers Coppola provides.

The Aldermen sent the issue to a subcommittee for further review.

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