A hearing Tuesday in the lawsuit of former Derby finance director Henry Domurad Jr. offered the public its first glimpse into the behind-the-scenes drama that erupted in controversy in April when Domurad ceased working for the city.
The Valley Indy was allowed to record the proceedings at Superior Court in Milford. Posted below are several videos showing testimony of the players involved: Domurad, Staffieri, and mayoral aide Phil Robertson.
The videos do not show Tuesday’s proceeding in its entirety, but they do present the essential details each of the three offered during the hearing.
It began with Domurad’s lawyer, John Gesmonde, calling Staffieri as his first witness. Gesmonde asked Staffieri about his hiring of Domurad and the details of the former finance director’s contract, during which the mayor said city officials haven’t been able to find the document.
Gesmonde then asked Staffieri about the circumstances surrounding Domurad’s departure. Staffieri said that during an April 12 meeting he told Domurad “things are not working out well” regarding an agreement the two of them had come to for Domurad to pursue the qualifications necessary to be finance director. The mayor also denied saying he had seen Domurad sign a letter of resignation April 12.
Gesmonde continued his questioning of Staffieri with questions about the timeline and details of Domurad’s hiring.
Staffieri’s lawyer, Derby Corporation Counsel Joseph Coppola, then asked Staffieri several questions about Domurad’s hiring and departure. The mayor testified that Domurad has never been qualified to be finance director.
Gesmonde then quizzed Staffieri about Domurad’s qualifications and the city’s charter. He also asked Staffieri about his remarks at an aldermen’s meeting in 2008 when Domurad was hired, during which the mayor recommended Domurad’s hiring.
After Staffieri left the stand, Gesmonde called Derby mayoral aide Phil Robertson as his second witness. Gesmonde asked Robertson about his recruitment of Domurad to be the city’s finance director in 2008. During the questioning, Robertson reveals Domurad actually signed two contracts with the city because the original was lost.
Gesmonde then asks Robertson about a visit Robertson made to Domurad’s house around the time of Domurad’s appointment.
When Robertson finished testifying, Gesmonde called his third and final witness: Domurad.
Not surprisingly, much of his testimony conflicted with that of Staffieri and Robertson, beginning with the mayor’s claim that he and Domurad had an agreement for Domurad to get “certified” to be a finance director.
He also testifies about the meeting during which Staffieri told him he “was not working out.”
Domurad then testified that he did not author the letter of resignation produced by city officials in April, saying it’s “not my style.” Judge Arthur Hiller also asked Domurad about his contract.
Later, Judge Hiller asks more questions about why Domurad never got a copy of his employment contract.
Next, Gesmonde’s questioning of Domurad continued, with Domurad testifying that Robertson told him signing a letter of resignation was a condition of his employment with the city because Staffieri had “a reservation about me being disruptive in the future.”
Coppola then got a chance to cross-examine Domurad, and first asked him about the April 12 meeting during which he learned he would be losing his job. He also asked questions about the disputed letter of resignation, and the way Domurad has signed his name on city documents in the past.
Coppola and Judge Hiller then asked Domurad to clarify his answers regarding whether his signature on the disputed letter of resignation was real.
The mayor’s lawyer next asked Domurad whether he was qualified to serve as Derby’s finance director, suggesting Domurad was really acting as a clerk.
Later in the hearing, Gesmonde again pressed Staffieri about the timing of when the mayor said he received a letter of resignation from Domurad.
