Update: Staffieri Issues Statement, Hughes’ Respond

Mayor Anthony Staffieri issued a prepared statement Monday afternoon regarding the removal of Robert Hughes from the Derby Police Commission.

Hughes is the father of Derby Aldermanic President Ken Hughes and Jeffrey Hughes, who has a lawsuit pending against the mayor and his sons over the ownership of Connie’s Restaurant on Elizabeth Street.

Derby Police Chief Eugene Mascolo e‑mailed a statement to the Valley Indy Tuesday morning. It is reprinted at the end of the article as well.
A statement from Ken Hughes is posted at the end of this article.

Click here to read our story on Hughes’ dismissal from the police commission.

Click here, here, here and here to read our previous stories about the Connie’s dispute.

A copy of the mayor’s statement is posted below. The article continues after the document:

Staffieri Police Commission

The Valley Indy sent a copy of the mayor’s statement to both Robert and Ken Hughes Monday afternoon.

Ken Hughes sent a prepared statement via e‑mail.

The mayor came to the Derby Board of Aldermen on December 22, 2005 (please see the Derby website for minutes) for us to approve his appointment for police commissioners. He should have done the same now. What has changed? Does he use the Derby Charter only when it suits him? His soliloquy doesn’t negate the fact he never had the courage or respect to meet with Bob Hughes to let him know his intentions, nor does it explain his lack of response to requested communications, both via phone and email. His press release doesn’t explain why they didn’t let Mr. Hughes, a veteran, march in the Memorial Day Parade,” Hughes wrote in the e‑mail.

I ask the mayor to publicly outline one decision made by Bob Hughes which shows his judgment has been blurred. Until he can do that, his press release is just words on a paper, not even written by him,” Hughes wrote.

In my opinion, the situation with Connie’s is affecting Mr Staffieri’s judgment as mayor.”

Robert Hughes said he wanted to hear specific examples from the mayor.

Again, his administration is ghost writing for the mayor,” Hughes said.

He also questioned why the mayor didn’t discuss any of the issues with him.

Mascolo, the city’s police chief, sent this message Tuesday:

Prior to Memorial Day, at least Jeff Hughes claimed the mayor was abusing his position in the Connie’s dispute.

Former Police Commission Chairman, Bob Hughes was participating in the Connie’s dispute personally and overtly.

I felt Bob marching in the parade would have sent the wrong message to our citizens that his families claims were justified and Bob’s actions in the dispute appropriate.

Bob’s status as a veteran had nothing to do with the issue and the mayor’s office was not involved.

The Connie’s dispute is complicated and hopefully the issue will be resolved so this personal business dispute can stop distracting our city fathers.

I cannot predict how the Connie’s dispute will turn out but I stand on the decisions I made based on what I knew at the time.”

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