A Valley Indy story published last week about a gathering of officials at Ansonia City Hall prompted a discussion about open government at the Feb. 11 Aldermen meeting.
The story detailed a get-together Jan. 28 organized by Vinnie Scarlata, the chairman of the Economic Development Commission, regarding what the city could do with two old industrial properties it owns downtown.
Scarlata initially told a reporter in attendance the discussion was not for publication, because he had concerns about getting the public’s hope up.
The Valley Indy story looked at the situation through the lens of the state’s Freedom of Information Act, and questioned whether the meeting lived up to “transparency” promises to the public during the campaign for mayor.
The story prompted a 1,700 word response by Rick Dunne, executive director of the Valley Council of Governments, who characterized the Valley Indy’s story as an “awful hit piece.”
Click here to read the story and comments.
During the public session portion of Tuesday’s Aldermen meeting, Benz Street resident Michael Egan said the Valley Indy story “was of much interest,” but thought it was too harsh.
“I’d like to thank the VIS staff for keeping us citizens up on happenings in the Valley,” Egan said. “But we all make mistakes. In my opinion, the criticism in this article was not justified.”
“I thank the group that held and attended this meeting,” Egan said. “From the report (in the Valley Indy), it was a good, diverse group. Planning, or lack of it, has been one of our city’s failures in the past. I encourage the city to continue having this type of meeting.”
Later in the Aldermen’s meeting, corporation counsel John Marini mentioned the story while talking about an “Open Government Seminar” the city has tentatively scheduled for March 25.
Marini said Scarlata’s meeting was “100 percent legal” but said city government can and should do more to be open with its citizens.
“I would sort of agree with the story,” Marini said. “Even if the city is following the laws, there’s always ways to be more transparent. And this is going to be one of the topics of conversation at this seminar. Certainly the public deserves to know where the city stands on any number of issues.”
Charles Stowe, a First Ward Alderman who attended last month’s meeting, called it a “think tank meeting” while updating other Aldermen about the Economic Development Commission’s activities in his role as a liaison between the two boards.
“There was some mention about why wasn’t the public notified? It wasn’t really an EDC meeting or any committee meeting, it was just a few people that were discussing, like the Palmer building and some other minor things about occupying buildings, what buildings would we like to see done something with first, what would make the biggest impact,” Stowe said.
“It was just a public think tank and it was a very good meeting but it wasn’t meant to offend anybody,” Stowe said.
Under Mayor James Della Volpe’s administration, discussions about the properties — 153 Main St. an 497 E. Main St. — were held under the auspices of the Ansonia Development Corporation, which met on the second Wednesday of every month, according to public notices published on the City of Ansonia website.
