The city has a new chairman of its police commission — or does it?
First, some background
Former chairman Robert Hughes learned Friday that Mayor Anthony Staffieri had removed him from the commission.
Hughes’ son, Jeffrey, is suing the mayor and his sons, Paul and Anthony, in an ownership dispute over Connie’s, an Elizabeth Street restaurant that abruptly last month.
Click here, here, here and here to read our previous stories about the Connie’s dispute.
Staffieri issued a statement Monday saying Hughes’ “objectivity” as a police commissioner had been “effected.” The statement alluded to friction between Hughes and administrators at the Derby Police Department, but did not go into specifics.
Staffieri did not tell Hughes he was off the board. Hughes said he found out from another commissioner three days before the commission’s last meeting. His prepared statement triggered prepared statements from Ken Hughes and Derby Police Chief Gene Mascolo.
New Stuff
The Derby Police Commission — Theodore Estwan, Jr. and Leo DiSorbo — met Monday night at the police department, where Estwan was elected chairman.
The New Haven Register reported on the new chairman Tuesday morning — and the Derby Police Department’s official website listed the change Tuesday morning.
The draft meeting minutes also confirm the selection of Estwan.
One problem — there weren’t enough commissioners to elect a new chairman. That’s according to Ken Hughes, president of the Board of Aldermen.
A copy of the minutes is posted below. Article continues after the document.
Derby Police Commission July 12
Ken Hughes is the son of Robert Hughes and is the older brother of Jeffrey Hughes.
“This is Robert Rules of Order 101,” Hughes said. “My father was removed from the commission. They have two members. One of the members had to recuse himself. You can’t have Leo DiSorbo as the only vote.”
Hughes sent e‑mails Tuesday afternoon to Estwan, DiSorbo and Derby corporation counsel Joseph Coppola inquiring about the matter.
Hughes said he’s still waiting to hear specific examples of his father’s lack of objectivity in his role as a police commissioner.
“I’ve told you again and again. They can’t provide any examples because there are none,” Hughes said.
E‑mails seeking comment were sent by the Valley Indy Tuesday to Staffieri’s office and to the corporation counsel.
Hughes, who was formerly one of the mayor’s closest allies, said he may ask that the police commission issues be added to the next meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
The Derby charter — the set of rules for local government — states that the mayor does not need appointments to the police commission approved by the Board of Aldermen.
However, the mayor has brought past appointees to the Aldermen as a courtesy, Hughes said.
The mayor does not appoint a chairman to the police commission. The members of the police commission vote to appoint a chairman.
