Mayor Anthony Staffieri Friday vetoed a resolution passed by the Board of Aldermen in which the legislators voted not to accept the resignation of finance director Henry Domurad.
Staffieri filed a letter with Town Clerk Laura Wabno at 12:58 p.m. Friday saying he disapproves of Thursday’s resolution, which had been approved by the Aldermen in a 5-3 vote.
Veto Power
Staffieri’s letter cites the Derby Charter, which outlines the mayor’s veto power and states the contested resolution will be returned to the Aldermen “at or before” its next meeting.
When the Aldermen meet again, they will need six votes to override Staffieri’s veto, according to the letter.
In the letter filed with the town clerk, Staffieri says Thursday’s vote violated the City Charter.
The Board of Aldermen did not have the authority to reject Domurad’s letter of resignation, Derby City Attorney Joseph Coppola told the Valley Indy Friday.
As of Thursday night, Domurad had been planning to return to City Hall as finance director Monday morning, according to his attorney.
He should not do so as a city employee because he resigned, Coppola said.
The letter from Staffieri is posted below. Article continues after the document.
Controversy
The authenticity of the resignation letter has been called into question.
While the Derby mayor’s office said Domurad submitted his letter of resignation April 12, Domurad alleges the resignation letter produced by City Hall is a fraud.
Domurad and his attorney claim Staffieri fired Domurad April 12.
Staffieri said Thursday a handwriting expert confirmed that the signature on the resignation letter is genuine.
Investigators from the Chief State’s Attorney’s office are looking into the controversy.
Veto Reaction
Ron Sill, president of the Derby Board of Aldermen, said Friday he was shocked to hear about the mayor’s veto.
“It stinks,” Sill said. “With all that we need to be doing in this city, with a downtown redevelopment that is going nowhere, it stinks that this is what we’re dealing with.”
Staffieri is a Republican. Sill is a Democrat.
“I’ve been on boards and commissions in Derby for over 30 years. I’ve been on the Board of Aldermen for more than 20 years. No mayor has ever vetoed a resolution from the Board of Aldermen,” Sill said.
The Board of Aldermen usually meet once a month, on the last Thursday of each month. Whether a special meeting will be called to deal with Staffieri’s veto remains to be seen.
Still called on his fellow Aldermen “to look into their hearts and do the right thing” by overriding Staffieri’s veto.
“Look at the person we’re dealing with here. Look at Henry’s years of service to Derby. Fourteen years as chairman of the tax board, a voluntary position. Why would he resign and ask for his job back the same day?” Sill said of Domurad.
Divided Along Party Lines
At Thursday’s Aldermen meeting, elected officials were scheduled to consider the appointment of former mayor Alan Schlesinger as interim finance director. The Aldermen were also supposed to consider forming a search committee to find Domurad’s permanent replacement.
Instead, Alderman Stephen Iacuone made a motion asking the board to not accept Domurad’s resignation. Iacuone had the support of fellow Democrats on the board, who questioned how the city could accept a letter that the author says it not real.
The board voted 5-3 not to accept the letter.
Democrats Iacuone, Sill, Barbara DeGennaro, Carmen DiCenso and Art Gerckens — an independent who was endorsed and ran for office with the Democrats — voted not to accept the letter due to the allegations surrounding it.
Republicans Bev Moran, Jay Benanto and Scott Boulton voted against the motion.
Swing Vote?
Republican Ken Hughes could not attend Thursday’s meeting.
With six votes needed to override Staffieri’s veto, that could make Hughes the key vote in deciding whether to override the mayor’s veto, assuming the current divide stands.
Hughes previously served as Staffieri campaign manager. The relationship has been somewhat strained due to a civil lawsuit over a business partnership between Hughes’ brother and Staffieri’s sons.
However, it is not likely Hughes will vote to override Staffieri’s veto.
Hughes said the issue has become complicated by politics — and the fact that a state investigation is underway.
“The fact of the matter is, the finance director position is one which needs to work closely with the mayor’s office on many facets of city government,” Hughes said in an e-mail.
“If a mayor is not amicable with his finance director, the city, as a whole, has a problem,” Hughes’ e-mail went on. “I believe this relationship is now strained beyond repair so my vote would be to accept the letter of resignation unless it is proven otherwise by the state investigation. If it is indeed proven to be different than presented, then we have much bigger fish to fry.”
A call seeking comment was left with Domurad, who was in Derby City Hall Friday morning before being asked to leave by Phil Roberston, the mayor’s administrative assistant.
Robertson said he had a brief discussion about the City Charter with Domurad and explained that the Aldermen’s vote from the previous night was going to be overturned.
Robertson said that he asked Domurad to leave once any business he had to conduct in the building was concluded.
The door to Domurad’s old office on the second floor of City Hall remained locked during Domurad’s visit, according to Robertson.
Wow, what a shock that Tony and his cronies will proceed forward without allowing the investigation to be completed first. As a taxpayer, I resent that he decides which rules to follow to obviously meet his political agenda. Henry has served Derby well for longer than Tony ever will. Henry, you should step down. And run against Tony in the next election! Regardless of my political affiliation, I will vote for you!!! This and a 7 year dog poop issue is precisely why Derby is the butt of so many jokes!! Sad and pathetic
someone said that domurod has uncovered some discrepancies with the police dept and overtime
Right now the aldermen should be supporting the mayor. NOT voting party crap. There is a letter of resignation. There is an investigation being done by the state. Until that investigation is over, there should be an interim person in that job. One that is appointed to the job temporarily by a non party official and it should be someone not connected to politics. If it says anywhere what party Domurad is, I missed it, but I can bet he belongs to the party that got the most votes in his favor. Because, with the exception of a very few people in politics, no one cares about the actual issues — all they care about is their party.
Ken Hughes seems to be one of the only people with a brain that is capable of thinking of the proper protocol.
Running a city is a business and if this were another business, the person who’s letter of resignation was received, would be suspended from the job until the issue could be straightened out.
Not if someone is being railroaded! Kudos to the alderpeople who have a backbone. And it shouldn’t be a political issue. What makes you think it is? Because the ones with an agenda supported the mayor. If anyone made it political, they did! And you don’t question their choice? Wow, Derby is an embarrassment for sure. I used to support Tony until I got to know him! No ramifications for what he did to people like Ron Luneau (a personal vendetta by your idol Hughes). No regard to people who won’t conform to the way only they want to run the city. Thanks to all who did the right thing and not the “popular” thing….you’ve learned well!
I don’t have any idols and I hate politics. I hate it that Republicans and Democrats will vote because their party says so, rather than look at issues or records. I hate that party voters will not support the person in office if the person isn’t the right party. It’s awfully close to bigotry — wrong race, wrong faith, wrong sexual orientation, handicapped, etc. Put wrong political party in there too and it’s “just” another bigotry issue.
You don’t have to respect the person in office, but you definitely should be respecting the office itself.
In a business, an interim person would be put in the position until the investigation was over. That’s all I’m saying.
Derby has had it’s ups and downs like every other city in the country. It’s never been an embarrassment to those of us that love this city. Those that don’t are free to move out or stay as they wish.
And you can’t say what the right thing is. This is all under investigation. Let the investigators do their job. When it’s over, then the truth will be out for all to see. We have the best forensics in the world here so both sides can hire experts to prove one way or another, whether or not the letter is a forgery.
In the meantime, that position should not be filled by anyone involved.
And if you’re going to be bashing people or my city — please don’t respond to me. Talk nice and I will too.
It’s my city too and I’ve served here and witnessed the BS that exists. Look at your boards and how many people are constantly shuffled around. I’ve been a party to Tony’s lies and, until he proves otherwise, will never trust his word. When he doesn’t get his own way, he and “his” make things happen. I’m entitled to my opinion too. Tony has messed with too many people that I know are genuine so he will never get my respect.
Well thank you, Renee, for having served here. I am truly grateful that you did. I know it can’t be easy. 🙂 I also respect your opinion. From someone on the outside of the workings of a city, all I see is the accusation of dirty politics — in every single mayor’s time in office. Doesn’t matter what party. I’ve lived through 60 years worth of mayors here in Derby and from the time I started paying attention (maybe 40 years or so), there hasn’t been one mayor that hasn’t been accused of this or that or whatever. Blasted. Totally. With the possibly exception of the late Richie Grande. I honestly don’t remember too much, if any, bitching about him.
So what I try my best to do is look at the good things that are happening during the term of the mayor. And during election time, I watch what’s said by both sides and vote for the side that’s not slinging mud. Or should I say the side that’s slinging the least mud? A law should be passed that a candidate can’t say a word about his or her opponent and should only be able to tell us what they plan on doing for our city. Anyone who lives here, can see with their own eyes, what the person in office has or has not done. We don’t need it shoved in our faces constantly.
I agree, I only speak of exactly what I went though, under Tony, when I was in the BOE. Also, I witnessed firsthand when Hughes was instrumental in having my dad, Ron Luneau, fired. And when he came up with a lame police complaint to try and have him arrested (which, as we all know, went nowhere). I agree about the mudslinging and also that Mr. Grande was one in a million. I could give even more examples of how this administration has failed in numerous decisions (pertaining from everything from handicapped parking to the board of police commissioners, to rotten attitudes of the people we pay to SERVE US. When greed is part of the picture, no one can win.
Renee,
Ron Luneau is your father? I remember the crap that happened with him and I never believed he did anything wrong. Your dad was one of the best teachers and my daughter, Carol, still calls him her favorite teacher to this day. Plus when I was working as secretary at St. Mary’s, his grandmother (I guess your great-grandmother!) would call me several times a week for something or other and every other sentence was ‘my Ronnie’. Oh how she loved him!!
I guess I’ll never understand politics. You’re right about when greed is part of the picture, no one wins. I am one of those silly, naive people who really and truly believe that people who are elected should care more about the city they’re serving, than they care about their own agendas.
Yes Row, Ron Jr (the teacher/coach) is my brother and my dad works for public works so I know all too well of political antics :0) I had no agenda when I served on the BOE, though some people questioned why I would serve because I didn’t have children then (like, what do I know about kids?). So damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I moved back to Derby and wanted to help make a difference, because my roots are in Derby. As a former police officer in New Haven (20 years) I was appalled to see how much worse it was to be involved in politics. They lost a lot of talent in ’07 when politics were painfully obvious. I’m not done in politics yet (just a break while in nursing school) so, like my grandmother, they haven’t heard the last of me :0)