Seymour’s new economic development director will start next week, despite some concerns about his criminal record.
First Selectman Paul Roy told the Board of Selectmen Tuesday that he officially offered the job to Ferdinand “Fred” A. Messore, 41.
The Board of Selectmen chose Messore by a 6 – 1 vote on May 18.
At the time they voted, the board members knew Messore had a 2005 conviction for driving under the influence. He told them about it during the application process.
But it was later revealed that Messore also had alcohol-related offenses on his record from 1989 and 1991 — and misdemeanor convictions on his record for disorderly conduct and interfering with police.
Roy said Tuesday that he decided to hire Messore despite the convictions after he called the police departments in Orange and West Haven to learn more about the incidents. He also had a follow up meeting with Messore to talk about his record.
Click play on the video above, provided by citizen Frank Loda, to see Tuesday’s meeting. The discussion starts at about 10 minutes.
“The issues that we found out [about] have nothing to do with Mr. Messore’s ability to be the economic development director. He’s still getting high references from some well respected folks,” Roy said.
Selectman Kurt Miller, who was the lone dissenting vote in May, expressed dismay Tuesday at Messore’s confirmation.
“Based on the circumstances that were presented to us, and the information that we found out, I wasn’t for his hiring, and then the next day we found out about the other issues and things,” Miller said Tuesday. “That solidified my decision.”
Miller said that Massore’s credentials were exceptional, but he still has issues with his record.
“You start to see a pattern after a while, and I don’t feel comfortable with that,” Miller said.
Miller said that he suspected the vote would be different if the Board of Selectman voted again.
Messore’s hiring was confirmed by Roy alone, who is not required by the town’s charter to put the matter to another vote.
Messore was picked from a pool of 11 applicants. He is the former Executive Director of the West Have Development Corporation.
Messore will be paid $42,000 for a 20-hour work week.
Messore was not able to be reached for comment Tuesday night. When reached in May, Messore said he was excited for the opportunity to work in Seymour, and was not about to discuss his background because he didn’t have the job yet.
He said the arrests happened in “a previous stage of life,” where he was going through a divorce and custody issues.
Messore pleaded guilty in 2005 to driving under the influence in Branford, and has alcohol-related offenses on his record from 1989 and 1991, according to a 2005 article published in the New Haven Register.
