Mayor Mark Lauretti said he plans to meet with city labor attorneys Friday to discuss the future of Elliot Wilson’s employment with city hall.
Wilson, 67, has been on unpaid leave from his job as head building official since he pleaded guilty to lying to a federal grand jury last January.
He was sentenced to five months in prison last week. Wilson lied to the grand jury investigating corruption in Shelton when he denied receiving gifts of favors from developers in town. In fact, his plea agreement says, Wilson accepted money, gifts and favors for at least a decade.
Lauretti said discussion with the attorneys has been delayed because “people have been out of town.”
Lauretti would not say what options the city is reviewing.
“Anything I say is going to be distorted,” Lauretti said.
When pushed to answer questions members of the public might have about the employment status — such as whether Wilson will be eligible to receive a pension — Lauretti said:
“I don’t imagine it’s a lot of people in the public wondering. Just the political people.”
John “Jack” Finn, the only Democrat on the Board of Aldermen, said he thinks Wilson should be fired.
“I like Mr. Wilson. He’s treated me well. He’s respectful,” Finn said last week. “But if you work for a local government, what residents expect is honest services for an honest day’s work.”
However, Finn said he believes Wilson should receive a pension if he’s eligible.
“He put his years in. He put his time in,” Finn said. “Even though probably a lot of people think I’m wrong, he earned his pension due to his service to the community.”
Finn said there may also be legal questions about whether the city could withhold the pension.
Wilson is the only public official charged or convicted in the FBI’s corruption probe. He is scheduled to be incarcerated next month. His sentence includes five months in prison, and five months on house arrest, plus a $5,000 fine.
Two developers — James Botti and Robert Scinto — have also been charged, as well as Botti’s elderly father.
James Botti is currently serving a six-year sentence in prison, while his father, Peter Botti, received a year of probation.
Scinto, who pleaded guilty to lying to a federal grand jury, is awaiting sentencing.
During the trial for James Botti, federal prosecutors identified Lauretti as the target of their investigation. But Lauretti has never been charged and has denied wrongdoing.
