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Eugene Driscoll | Nov 30, 2022 8:30 pm
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State Rep. Kara Rochelle was recently elected to her third term representing Derby and Ansonia in Hartford.
ANSONIA/DERBY — The chairman of the Ansonia Town Republican Committee called on state Rep. Kara Rochelle to resign after court testimony reported Tuesday by The CT Mirror alleged that Rochelle was intimately linked to corrupt politico Michael DiMassa, the person who arranged for her to be paid $5,000 as a consultant to the City of West Haven.
“The residents of the 104th deserve better and call for her immediate resignation,” Anthony Mammone, the chairman of the Ansonia Republican Town Committee, said in a statement to The Valley Indy.
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Jean Falbo-Sosnovich | Nov 28, 2022 9:23 pm
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A screen shot from the YouTube video of the Oct. 18 meeting of the Seymour Board of Selectpersons.
SEYMOUR — The Seymour Police Department and the FBI are investigating a cybercrime that swindled town government out of $375,000, The Valley Independent Sentinel has learned.
“The Town of Seymour is victim to a cybercrime perpetuated by an unknown party,” according to a statement from Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis and Seymour Town Attorney Richard Buturla. “The Office of the First Selectwoman ordered an immediate investigation into how this fraud occurred. In addition, the Seymour Police Department was instructed to immediately initiate a criminal investigation into this matter.”
The statement was issued after The Valley Indy started asking questions about the matter.
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Jean Falbo-Sosnovich | Oct 20, 2022 8:42 am
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A screen shot from the YouTube video of the Oct. 18 meeting of the Seymour Board of Selectpersons.
SEYMOUR — The members of the Board of Selectpersons met behind closed doors Tuesday night (Oct. 18) to discuss a privileged communication with its attorney.
Executive sessions are closed to the public and are allowed under state law under specific circumstances, such as talking about lawsuits, specific employees, real estate deals — and to receive legal advice. No votes are allowed to be taken in executive session, and it is against the law to change subjects while in private.
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Eugene Driscoll | Aug 18, 2022 6:52 am
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DERBY — On Wednesday the mayor’s office released the resignation letter sent Monday by finance director Agata Herasimowicz.
The letter does not go into detail about why Herasimowicz decided to submit her two-week notice less than two months after the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen voted 8 – 1 to reinstate her after she had been put on administrative leave in March by Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan.
“I am writing to let you know that I will be resigning from my position and my last day will be August 26, 2022. If there is anything I can do to support this transition, I am available to help if needed,” according to the letter from Herasimowicz released by the mayor’s office.
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Eugene Driscoll | Aug 16, 2022 11:37 am
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(Left to right) Alderwomen Anita Dugatto, Alderwoman Sarah Widomski, corporation counsel Vin Marino and Derby Finance Director Agata Herasimowicz at a meeting in June.
DERBY — Derby Finance Director Agata Herasimowicz resigned on Monday. The resignation happened less than two months after elected officials voted to bring her back from paid administrative leave.
Walt Mayhew, Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan’s chief of staff, confirmed the resignation Tuesday morning (Aug. 16), as did Herasimowicz during a brief phone call.
“I don’t have a comment about my resignation. I’m sorry, it’s just not a good time,” she said.
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Eugene Driscoll | Jun 29, 2022 8:56 pm
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(Left to right) Alderwomen Anita Dugatto, Alderwoman Sarah Widomski, corporation counsel Vin Marino and Derby Finance Director Agata Herasimowicz at a meeting Monday)
DERBY — The Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen voted 8 – 1 on Wednesday to reinstate Agata Herasimowicz as finance director.
Alderman Charles Sampson voted no. Mayor Richard Dziekan, after reading a lengthy statement into the record criticizing Herasimowicz, recommended she be terminated.
Herasimowicz was not at the meeting. When reached afterward, she said she was pleased, and said she hoped to make improvements to Derby’s financial operations and oversight.
The discussion and vote to bring Herasimowicz back is in the 18-minute video below.
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Eugene Driscoll | Jun 28, 2022 7:46 pm
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Agata Herasimowicz was judged "very good" at adhering to policy in a performance review completed in January.
DERBY — The city’s finance director received a positive performance review less than eight weeks before being put on paid administrative leave, The Valley Independent Sentinel has learned.
Finance Director Agata Herasimowicz was placed on paid leave in March so Mayor Rich Dziekan’s administration could investigate whether she violated Derby government policies and procedures.
However, her Jan. 12 performance review noted she followed policies.
The review included a section titled “adherence to policy.” Herasimowicz scored “very good,” the second highest option available.
“Agata is guided and governed by policies. Where policies don’t exist, she has asked that they be created,” according to the performance review.
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Eugene Driscoll | Jun 27, 2022 11:09 pm
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(Left to right) Alderwomen Anita Dugatto, Alderwoman Sarah Widomski, corporation counsel Vin Marino and Derby Finance Director Agata Herasimowicz.
DERBY — The stated purpose — in writing and verbally — of Monday’s meeting of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen was to discuss an investigative report into finance director Agata Herasimowicz, but the meeting went off script soon after it started.
The first line of questioning from the city lawyer was about a Bank of America purchase card, similar to a credit card, Herasimowicz had apparently acquired to pay for some city expenses. Derby City/Town Clerk Marc Garofalo was able to use a card, and said he might have used it once.
Herasimowicz said modern municipalities routinely use such devices. She said the Derby City Hall custodian has access to a Home Depot card from the city. Garofalo said the idea is to prevent city employees from having to pay for small purchases out of their own pocket and then wait an extended time for reimbursement.
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Eugene Driscoll | Jun 22, 2022 1:23 pm
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Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan, center, with members of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen at a meeting Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
DERBY — An investigative report released by Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan’s office on Tuesday says Derby Finance Director Agata Herasimowicz violated the City Charter several times but stops far short of assigning blame to her.
Instead, the report concludes her actions were “reasonable” when it came to paying for police video equipment and bringing in temporary workers to help fill vacancies in Derby City Hall without the proper authorization outlined in the charter.
In addition, the report notes the city lacks basic financial policies — an issue Herasimowicz tried to address before she was put on paid administrative leave. The report is embedded at the bottom of this story.
