Throughout Mayor Dugatto’s terms and campaign I heard the words “Transparent,” “Process,” and “Pending.”
She opened the debate saying she’s not a good public speaker, which would indicate that she shouldn’t run for public office, especially with two terms of practice under her belt.
The mayor needs to be the Derby’s biggest cheerleader bragging about what a great place it is to live, work and play.
Regarding the parking garage, it was run by the Parking Authority.
For 9 years, it ran in the black. Not even a year passed with the city taking control under the mayor, and she claims reductions were made based on fiscal reasons and that was with the elimination of the Parking Director, the Bookkeeper and having Public Works plow the roof in the winter instead of a contractor.
The mayor will say the Authority resigned their duties to the city but she could have appointed a new Authority. Now, while being under the city, the parking garage creates an additional burden to the taxpayers.
She had not been charging customers and businesses their monthly fees and as recently as June 15, I was told of a customer not being charged. I insisted a full audit be performed as it was done yearly with the authority.
Regarding the Sterling Opera House, under the Staffieri administration the most work in recent history was completed in the shortest amount of time including the complete sealing of the exterior, a new roof installed in a weekend and two new cupolas installed. I voluntarily on my own time was giving tours to visiting photographers who would make a tax-deductible donation through the Valley Community Foundation and would post their work on Flickr thereby giving the SOH free exposure.
The photographers were given a FULL tour and signed Hold Harmless Agreements. She had put a stop to that.
I have alleged she has not been truthful not only to me but has held back information from the BOA. I have two complaints filed against her that have been going on for over a year.
At our last hearing in September, information discussed was supposed to be brought back to the board per her. I showed up in September and the BOA were totally caught off guard by my appearance.
I followed up in October and she said the case was still pending, once again keeping information from the board. It is pending not because of me but because she does not want it out before the election.
She also has been telling people that I left the garage to pursue other interests. Why would I leave a job perceived to be so easy if I did not have something lined up?
I was questioned on the timing of a recent social media post regarding this, implying I posted it for political reasons but if that was the case why not post it before the primary, so much for her transparency.
At the debate, she kept holding the booklet up about downtown which after a while felt like the cranes moving in before an election, if that plan is so great it should not matter who is in office and with the energy Mr. Dziekan displayed that night, he should have no problem to move the process forward.
Markanthony Izzo
Derby
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