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.
