The city’s library director is suing the City of Ansonia, saying she was treated unfairly because of her disability.
Joyce Ceccarelli, employed at the city’s library since 1995, is suing for an unspecified amount of money in federal court under the American with Disabilities Act.
Ceccarelli told the Valley Indy all she really wants is for the city to keep promises it made to her 15 years ago.
In 1999 she requested city government provide “reasonable accommodation” for her because she has multiple sclerosis.
“Reasonable accommodation” is a phrase from federal law which compels employers to make changes to the work place or adjustments to the job to help an employee do his or her duties.
The accommodations could “range from making the physical work environment accessible, (to) providing a flexible work schedule or providing assistive equipment,” according to the state Department of Labor.
“These accommodations are generally low cost solutions, which provide the environment and opportunity for a qualified worker to do his or job,” according to the Department of Labor.
In Ceccarelli’s case, the accommodations included flexible work hours and the ability to work from home, she said.
However, the situation allegedly changed in 2011, after Tara Kolakowski became Ansonia’s acting personnel director.
“There was never a problem,” Ceccarelli said. “Then suddenly there was.”
Kolakowski was hired under former Mayor James Della Volpe’s administration. Prior to working for the city, Kolakowski was an Alderman.
“Since Tara Kolakowski was hired/assigned as the acting (personnel) director, the plaintiff has been harassed and reprimanded due to the 1999 accommodation and because of the plaintiff’s MS,” the lawsuit reads.
Kolakowski, via email, said she had not been contacted by the current (Mayor David Cassetti’s) administration about the matter. She declined comment.
Ceccarelli said there was no personal animosity between her and Kolakowski, and she received good performance reviews from Della Volpe.
But she said the city reneged on accommodations it agreed to in 1999, such as leaving the library to work from home if she felt sick.
“She’s (Kolakowski) writing me up, she’s doing all these different things to me. But never telling me ‘This is what I want you to do.’” Ceccarelli said.
According to the lawsuit, in November 2012 Kolakowski told Ceccarelli “she was no longer permitted to work an altered work schedule.” Ceccarelli requested city government review the matter, but she never heard back.
Kolakowski is no longer employed by the city. The lawsuit indicates Ceccarelli’s work situation didn’t change after Cassetti was elected mayor.
“Defendant’s agents, servants and/or employees continued to discriminate against plaintiff because of her physical disability,” the lawsuit reads.
Ceccarelli said the current administration isn’t “bothering” her over her disease. But it isn’t bending over backwards to help, either.
“I don’t want to be doing this. I don’t want to have to file a lawsuit,” Ceccarelli said. “To settle this would cost the city almost nothing.”
She said she just wants the city to adhere to its original agreement with her and for a handful of sick days that she lost.
In addition to violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, the city’s actions violate the state’s Fair Employment Practices Act, the lawsuit claims.
Ceccarelli initially filed a complaint with the state’s Commission of Human Rights and Opportunity. A hearing had been scheduled for September, but Ceccarelli opted for the federal court.
She is being represented by Stuart Hawkins of Shepro & Hawkins, LLC in Stratford. A message was left Monday seeking comment.
The federal lawsuit was filed in the town clerk’s office June 2. The Board of Aldermen were scheduled to acknowledge the claim during its monthly meeting June 10.
John Marini, the city’s corporation counsel, said the city is investigating the claims.
“It was obviously made during a past administration, but we’re going to do our due diligence and defend it,” Marini said.
