Emails between Mayor Anita Dugatto’s office and senior center director Sarah Muoio show no conflict between the pair in the weeks leading up to Muoio’s dismissal.
Dugatto fired Muoio Jan. 21. The mayor was criticized at the time because Muoio was mourning the death of her father, and Dugatto would not explain her decision.
Dugatto filed a complaint with Derby police Feb. 8 asserting “financial irregularities by former Derby Senior Center Director Sarah Muoio,” according to a statement from Derby police.
Click here for a previous story.
No further explanation of the alleged “financial irregularities” has been given. The mayor hinted in an interview Feb. 8 that it may have to do with a nonprofit entity connected to the senior center.
Police are investigating. No charges have been filed in connection to the complaint.
The Valley Indy submitted Freedom of Information requests for Muoio’s personnel file to see whether there were any prior disciplinary issues between the mayor and Muoio. There were none in the file.
The Valley Indy submitted a separate request Jan. 27 for copies of emails between the mayor’s office and Muoio from October 2015 to Jan. 26, 2016. The city released the emails Feb. 9.
The correspondence includes information from Muoio requesting time off to take care of family needs due to her father’s death. In a separate email Muoio tells the mayor the facility needs a new custodian.
Muoio was hired as senior center director in 2012 as part of Mayor Anthony Staffieri’s administration. Prior to that she worked at the Ansonia Senior Center.
