On Sept. 8, 2009, political rivals Ken Hughes and former Mayor Marc Garofalo shook hands after arguing at a Derby Redevelopment Agency meeting.
The detente was captured in this 17-second video.
Do not expect the same to happen between Garofalo and current Mayor Anthony Staffieri.
The duo’s dislike of each other led to a tense moment during Thursday’s Board of Aldermen meeting in Derby City Hall.
During the public portion, during which anyone can speak to the elected officials, Garofalo rattled off a list of concerns he has with Derby government, ranging from the city’s violation of executive session rules to the whopping increase in sewer bills recently adopted by the city’s Water Pollution Control Authority.
Staffieri was not present while Garofalo spoke, which raised another concern with Garofalo.
“Where’s the mayor?” he said, before accusing the mayor of an ​“act of cowardice.”
Someone from inside the building got word to Staffieri.
He walked into the Aldermanic Chambers at 8:19 p.m., 79 minutes after the meeting started.
The mayor was not happy.
“I hear someone thinks that I’m a coward,” Staffieri said loudly while glaring at Garofalo. The mayor then took his regular seat next at the Aldermen’s table.
“Piece of crap that he is,” Staffieri said in a softer tone.
Corporation Counsel Joseph Coppola snickered.
The meeting then continued, with the Aldermen discussing tonnage limits at the Derby transfer station.
The conflict did not flare up during the rest of the meeting.