Elliot Wilson, the former head of the city’s building department who is serving a five-month prison sentence, resigned this week after 23 years on the job.
Wilson has been in jail since April 6. His resignation letter is dated April 10. A copy of the letter is posted at the end of this story.
“Dear Sir,” the letter, addressed to Mayor Mark Lauretti, reads. “Please be advised that I hereby resign my position as city building official effective immediately.”
City Hall released the letter Tuesday.
Wilson’s attorney had been in talks with city officials since Wilson was sentenced to prison for lying to a grand jury — trying to arrange for Wilson to retire instead of resign.
Before going to jail, Wilson told the Valley Indy he would prefer to retire because “it is a better set up.” He would not elaborate and referred questions to his attorney.
Wilson’s attorney, Michael Hillis, has not returned a call for comment since April 4.
He will not receive a pension, a union representative with Wilson’s union said earlier this month.
That’s because members of the supervisors union — United Electrical Connecticut Independent Labor Union — do not receive pensions, union president Debbie Onderko said.
“A pension is not an option,” Onderko said. “There is no retirement benefit in that way at all. We have defined contributions, what we as employees put in.”
Onderko said the employee contribution plan is like a 401K retirement account.
In January 2010, Wilson pleaded guilty to lying to a grand jury, when he said he didn’t accept gifts, cash and favors from developers in Shelton.
Wilson admitted in federal court he had accepted gifts for a decade.
He was sentenced to 10 months — of which he’ll spend five in prison and five under house arrest.
A message was left with Lauretti seeking comment.
