The Derby Aldermen have scheduled a special meeting Monday to discuss a separation agreement with an employee of city’s tax department.
A meeting agenda circulated Monday from the Town/City Clerk to the entire Board of Aldermen through e‑mail identifies the employee as Katherine Kulhawik.
The meeting agenda had not been finalized as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday — meaning the agenda could change.
According to Kulhawik’s LinkedIn profile, she has worked in the Derby tax collector’s office since July 2008.
The Valley Indy sent a Facebook message to Kulhawik Thursday but did not receive a response. The Valley Indy Thursday also left a voice mail for the only Kulhawik in Derby listed in the phone book.
Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri and corporation counsel Joseph Coppola said they could not comment on the matter.
As recently as July 26, Coppola was investigating the possibility of missing funds from the tax collector’s office, after an unnamed tax department employee was escorted out of Derby City Hall June 25.
Monday’s meeting is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. in the City Hall “media room,” which is in the building’s basement.
A public comment period will be offered at the meeting. The elected officials are then scheduled to enter into executive session for “personnel matter and litigation. Katherine Kulhawik,” according to the agenda.
A check of online civil and federal court databases Thursday did not show any lawsuits filed by Kulhawik.
The Aldermen agenda then lists “Employment Separation Agreement Katherine Kulhawik. Discussion and Possible Action.”
Ron Sill, president of the Derby Board of Aldermen, said the Aldermen have not received copies of Kulhawik’s separation agreement.
“No we haven’t. That’s what we’ll be talking about and I’m sure we’ll be shown it in executive session,” Sill said. “We’ll have to vote on it in public.”
Alderman Barbara DeGennaro said she didn’t know anymore than what was listed on Monday’s agenda.
“I don’t know anymore than I did last week,” said DeGennaro, referring to a July 26 Aldermen executive session on Coppola’s investigation.
As of Aug. 2, Derby police had not received a complaint connected to Coppola’s investigation. That could very well mean absolutely nothing criminal took place, but no one in a position to answer the question will talk.
Thomas Hennick, the public information officer for the state’s Freedom of Information Commission, said the separation agreement is “absolutely” a public document once it is approved.
“They are public records. You should be able to get it,” Hennick said before naming the specific provision of the state’s Freedom of Information Act which makes it so.
The Valley Indy Thursday also submitted a request through the state’s Freedom of Information Act to review Coppola’s investigation.
