Members of the Board of Selectmen were scheduled to meet with their attorney Fran Teodosio in executive session Tuesday to talk about a number of lawsuits pending against the town.
Executive sessions are closed-door meetings allowed in certain circumstances under state law, such as when discussing legal strategy.
The Selectmen listed the lawsuits they would be discussing on their meeting agenda.
Among them:
Vincent Vizzo. Jr. v Town of Oxford
THE CASE: Vizzo, the former chairman of the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission, is suing the town to reimburse himself for out-of-pocket expenses he incurred while fighting an ethics complaint.
Last year the town’s Ethics Commission ruled that Vizzo committed a “technical violation” of the town’s ethics code by not revealing a business relationship with the town planner after voting to give the planner a raise. Click here to read our previous story.
Vizzo’s lawsuit claims town officials said they would pick up the tab for his lawyers. Vizzo spent about $19,000 on the ethics complaint.
The town hired an outside attorney to fight Vizzo’s lawsuit. In court docs, the town denies Vizzo’s claims and invites him to prove it in court.
UP NEXT: Pretrial conference scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Oct. 13.
UPDATE: A trial is scheduled to start 10 a.m. May 19.
Andrew Ferrillo v Town of Oxford
THE CASE: Ferrillo, an Oxford resident hired by the town in 1996 as a part-time, 20-hours-a-week, Wetlands Conservation Officer, said he’s been working at least 36 hours a week since 2003 — but has never received the benefits (paid vacation, paid holidays, paid sick days, group medical insurance) other employees receive.
Since 2008, Ferrillo has been trying to get the benefits of a full-time employee, according to his lawsuit, and has complained to both First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers and Town Attorney Francis Teodosio. In 2009, Drayton-Rogers requested his hours be cut to 20 hours a week or less, according to the lawsuit.
Ferrillo claims this is a violation of Town Personnel Policy.
He wants a court to force Oxford to provide him benefits and to make him “whole for the benefits the Town has failed to provide to date, including but not limited to reimbursement for any out of pocket medical expenses.”
Ferrillo’s lawsuit seeks at least $15,000 from the town.
In a response to Ferrillo’s lawsuit filed in Milford Superior Court, Oxford denies that he’s been working 36 hours since 2003. The town says the burden of proof is on him regarding the other allegations. Furthermore, the town says Ferrillo has jumped the gun — there were other avenues to try before filing a lawsuit.
UP NEXT: Pretrial conference scheduled for 3 p.m. Oct. 13.
UPDATE: A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2011.
Daniel Wall v Oxford Planning and Zoning Commission
THE CASE: In February, Wall sued the commission after its members approved a zone change that allowed a neighboring property on Wedge Hill Drive to go from residential to commercial.
Click here to read our previous story.
Belmar Farms, LLC and Salton Enterprises, Inc. asked for the zone change. They have a deal to construct a four-building medical complex that would stretch from Route 67 toward Wedge Hill Drive. The developers have promised to donate land to the town for a new library.
In is lawsuit, Ball accuses the town of “spot zoning.” The town approved the zone change because they want the land for the library, Wall’s attorney said.
Oxford hasn’t submitted an answer to Wall’s lawsuit.
UP NEXT: Court date — March 25, 2011 in front of Judge Dale Radcliff in Derby Superior Court.
