Derby's Finance Director Submits Letter Of Resignation

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.

Herasimowicz allegedly addressed her resignation letter to the mayor and emailed it to the city’s human resources director. The Valley Indy was unable to immediately obtain a copy of the letter to verify.

Herasimowicz was hired as finance director in July 2021. She was put on paid administrative leave in March. Mayor Dziekan’s administration hired an auditing firm to investigate whether Herasimowicz violated Derby’s charter or city policies while doing her job.

The independent report found Herasimowicz had violated procedures when it came to issues such as purchasing camera equipment for the police department. But the report also found Derby government lacked specific written policies and procedures, and that the finance director’s actions were reasonable given the circumstances.

The Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen voted 8 – 1 in June to reinstate Herasimowicz — after Mayor Dziekan raised a series of new allegations and publicly stated she should be fired.

In an email Tuesday morning, Mayhew said two employees in the finance department recently transferred out of the department. One took a job within the Derby Board of Education, while the other is scheduled to take a civilian job within the Derby Police Department.

​“Later in the afternoon, after learning of the second resignation, Agata submitted her resignation. Agata was informed by the HR Director that her resignation was accepted and that it was referred to our labor attorney for guidance as to her employment contract and her final date of employment. Her letter provided a two-week notice,” Mayhew said.

The finance director’s position in Derby is unusually turbulent — and the city has a poor financial track record, as evidenced by its appearances in front of the Municipal Finance Advisory Commission. The city has an inability to complete audits on time that goes back years, and past budget mistakes have resulted in tax increases and the creation of an economic recovery plan.

Herasimowicz was hired with bi-partisian support to turn the finance department around. Mayor Dziekan’s campaign used Herasimowicz’ image in campaign advertisements during his successful bid for a third term.

But things were not good behind the scenes. Herasimowicz said Mayhew, a former city treasurer who came aboard in January after volunteering on Dziekan’s campaign, looked to undermine her work for political purposes.

Mayhew said Herasimowicz was insubordinate and violated the city charter.

The city’s finance department was already understaffed. The departure of three people will make the situation worse.

The Dziekan administration is checking with a labor lawyer to see if Herasimowicz’ last day can be stretched to 30 days, instead of two weeks, so that a transition can happen.

Alderwoman Sarah Widomski is the president of the Derby Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen. When asked to react to Herasimowicz’ resignation, she said city government is in crisis.

“This is the culmination of the last eight months of this administration interjecting politics into the finance office. As a result, all of the permanent employees of the finance office have left. The city is in crisis because of the style of leadership since Andrew Baklik left,” she said.

Baklik was Dziekan’s prior chief of staff.

“Agata had begun the momentous task of cleaning up the City of Derby’s finances and I am sorry to see her go. I wish her every success in her future endeavors,” Widomski said.

Herasimowicz was the city’s sixth finance director since 2012. Here is a look at the position’s lack of stability:

* In 2012, Henry Domurad, the city’s finance director at the time, sued the city for wrongful termination saying Mayor Anthony Staffieri fired him, then released a letter to the public saying Domurad had resigned. The matter went to court, where a judge ruled in the city’s favor.

* As that controversy ensued, the city brought in Alan Schlesinger, a former Derby mayor and finance director, to fill in on a temporary basis. However, Derby Democrats on the tax board quickly declined to pay him, which caused Schlesinger to walk out.

* Tommy Thompson was Derby’s finance director from 2012 until 2015. Domurad returned to Derby City Hall as Mayor Anita Dugatto’s administrative assistant in December 2013. Thompson left abruptly shortly after Mayor Dugatto was elected.

* In November 2015, the Dugatto administration hired Salvatore Coppola as finance director. He resigned abruptly in November 2019, shortly after Dziekan was re-elected to a second term.

* Coppola was immediately replaced by city treasurer Keith McLiverty in November 2019, who had lost his re-election bid as treasurer to Mayhew about a week before Coppola resigned. In January 2021, Derby hired David Taylor as interim finance director at a rate of $90 per hour. He replaced McLiverty. Taylor remained on the job until Herasimowicz was hired. McLiverty remained a consultant on the payroll through 2020, even after accepting a government position in Virginia. McLiverty was off the city payroll as of May 2021, according to statements made at public meetings.

* Herasimowicz’ hiring was announced in May 2021, and she started in July. She was placed on paid administrative leave at the start of March.

* The Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen voted 8 – 1 to bring Herasimowicz back in June 2022.

* August 2022: Herasimowicz submits a letter of resignation.