Joseph Romano is no longer chairman of the city’s housing authority, The Connecticut Post reports.
Mayor Anita Dugatto chose not to reappoint Romano, who served on the authority for 11 years.
Romano is the father of JR Romano, the state Republican Party chairman. JR Romano characterized the move as political, according to the Post.
Dugatto is a Democrat serving her second term as Derby mayor. She told the Post her decision not to reappoint Romano wasn’t politically motivated, but that she simply wanted new blood involved.
The housing authority is an appointed body. Its members serve two-year terms. The positions are voluntary.
Romano’s term ended in November, according to the Post.
The authority oversees federally-subsidized housing in the city, including Cicia Manor on West Fourth Street and Stygar Terrace off Hawthorne Avenue.
The housing authority has been repeatedly named a “high performer“ by the feds who oversee the programs.
The authority has been working for several years on a plan to redevelop a three-story building near downtown Derby.
In 2013, then-Mayor Anthony Staffieri announced the housing authority had purchased a large apartment building known as the “Barron Block” on Anson Street at the corner of Fifth Street.
The plan was to redevelop the building into federally-subsidized senior housing, as a way to clean up Anson Street.
However, the building still sits vacant, with plywood on the windows. The plan was stalled, at least in part, by disagreements over how to provide parking.
In 2014 Romano appeared in front of the Board of Aldermen to talk about the housing authority buying city property in order to provide parking for the project.
Romano was clearly frustrated by what he saw as a lack of progress by the city regarding the project. Click here for meeting minutes.
