The head building official in Shelton has been placed on an indefinite unpaid suspension, after he pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to lying to a federal grand jury.
Mayor Mark A. Lauretti Thursday confirmed that he placed Elliot Wilson on suspension Wednesday, while the city continues to investigate the allegations involved in Wilson’s plea.
In court documents, Wilson admitted that he received cash and favors from developers in relation to his official role as head building official.
“I don’t like to comment too much on personnel matters,” Lauretti said Thursday. “There is a privacy element that we afford people.”
Lauretti said the length of the suspension — and whether Wilson will lose his job — depend on his sentencing and what state officials say.
According to state law, the state’s Codes and Standards Committee may suspend of revoke the license or certificate of any building official who fails to faithfully perform the duties of his office.
Wilson, 66, is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on March 26.
“There are a number of factors that have to be considered in the due process law, which many people in the media, or the public for that matter, don’t understand,” Lauretti said.
Democratic Town Committee Chairman David Gioiello said he was happy to see the mayor had taken action.
Last week, the Democrats had questioned why Wilson wasn’t put on leave while the city investigates his plea.
“Now I think what has to happen is the city needs to find out what properties were involved and if there was any compromise to building codes,” Gioiello said. “Because if there were, the homeowners or the building owners could be at risk. And ultimately, because he was acting as an agent of the city, the city may have liability too.”
Lauretti said the city continues to look into the claims made in federal court and how they affect the city.
A message seeking comment was left with Wilson’s attorney, Michael Hillis.
Lauretti said assistant building official Joe Ballaro will fill in for Wilson during his suspension.
