Vizzo Sues Oxford For Legal Fees

The former chairman of the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission is suing the town to recover money he paid out of his pocket to defend himself against an ethics complaint.

Vincent A. Vizzo, Jr. was the subject of an ethics complaint filed against him in July of 2009. The specific details of the allegations were not made public.

In his lawsuit, Vizzo states the town attorney told him the town would pick up his legal tab (a copy of the lawsuit is posted below).

Vizzo appeared in front of the Oxford Ethics Commission.

On Nov. 17, the Board of Ethics found that Vizzo had violated the Town of Oxford ethics code in that he did not disclose to the Planning and Zoning Commission his business relationship with Town Planner Brian Miller (an independent contractor) when he recommended giving Miller a raise at the PZCs April 3, 2008 meeting, according to the Board of Ethics minutes.

According to the minutes, the Board of Ethics viewed this as a technical violation,’’ of the code and recommended to the Board of Selectmen that it (selectmen) take no action with regard to Mr. Vizzo.’’

During the Ethics Commission hearing, Vizzo was represented by attorney Alex Trimbicki, of Lynch, Trimbicki and Boynton of Milford.

The bill for Trimbicki’s services totaled $19,288.51, for legal representation and associated costs at $350 an hour for 55 hours of work.

During a regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen Jan. 20, town officials called Trimbicki’s bill excessive,” noting that Town Attorney Fran Teodosio is paid $175 an hour for his services.

The board unanimously approved a reduced payment to Vizzo of $8,846 for reimbursement based on a $175 an hour pay rate.

First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers said during the meeting that felt that the reduced payment was appropriate.

In my opinion this rate is much more reasonable,” she said at the time.

Vizzo disagrees.

Due to the extent of the charges against him, he needed to get a good attorney” and not some shlub” to represent him, he said.

I couldn’t get a plumber to come to my house for $150 an hour,” Vizzo said. My attorney was on point, very thorough and got the job done.”

The case will be addressed in Milford Superior Court on March 9.

Vizzo v Oxford

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