Your Daily Spin from the Middletown Mess: Local 466 Union President Cautious of Mayor's Planned Dept. Mergers

A private citizen is looking for a new job, two guys running as third party candidates  vs. a story about the potential destruction of City government infrastructure & increased waste on the backs of tax payers... lemme think which is more relevant...

The Mess, in true Spin fashion dictated by certain unseen forces is attempting to detract attention from the issue of the upcoming vote on the City merging of departments by placing this critical City issue between obscure articles today. 

Despite the fact this will impact the quality of services the City offers its taxpayers, and also taxpayer wallets, the Mess doesn't make this a top story! ?

The Mess really is working overtime taking dictation from the Drew Crew and Serracratologists in attempts to derail the upcoming 2013 municipal elections and taint the waters against non-cult candidates. 

So how does it work, do you guys have a separate phone line directly to Mess Editor Viktoria's bedroom that you wake her up in the middle of the night to start spinning the web? Does Tommy send a car to pick her up?

So what are the top stories? The Mess wants people to focus on the fact that Councilmen Phil Pessina and Joe Bibisi (R) are both seeking the nomination of the Working Families (cough Democrats by a different name cough ) party. The Mess ( or who ever is really pulling the strings) makes the  top headline is that former Mayor Sebastian Giuliano applied for the town manager position in Cromwell back in April.  A former mayor, now a private citizen, tries to get a new job outside of town and move on with his private life and editors Viktoria and Alex  put it front and center. Perhaps the Democratic Town Committee will again get some Wesleyan College Democrats to protest another attempt by Giuliano to move on. History can then repeat itself with six news crews covering the ONE protester! Instead of posting this story in a blatant attempt to try and stir up opposition, one would think that spendacrats would want to keep it quiet in order for Giuliano to get a new job elsewhere and be less of a  thorn  in their sides as they see him. And people criticize us for what we choose to cover- we see a Pulitzer in you kids' futures, really.

On another tangent, notice how the Mess hasn't mentioned that Wesleyan Professor & Eye Founder Stephen Devoto is gathering signatures to primary the Democratic slate for a seat on the Planning and Zoning ballot in while? What's wrong D-Crew? Don't want the word Devoto may actually accomplish his goal getting out?

Back to the real story: Wednesday the Finance and Government Commission met in regards to the adoption of the Blue Ribbon Report  aka Mayor's Task Force on Efficiency report from April 2012. They discussed  the final stages of its implementation which is merging of departments. The Common Council votes on this merger at their Monday meeting. This spring, the council voted to merge the legal and personnel departments.

The Insider has published numerous editorials from a variety of authors who crunched the numbers and showed that this was not truly going to save tax payer money, but as written had parts if  enacted would create more spending. One issue the Common Council should look at, hopefully in between certain councilpersons giving speeches about themselves, is if in the months since the merger if in fact these departments have saved money as it was proposed. Mayor Drew touted over and over (and over) again that it would; now prove it. Did you know when Mayor Drew smiles rainbows appear in the sky? Don't believe us? Well he said so, so it must be true.

If  Drew's plans are adopted by the Council, according to the new organization, the parks division would report to the Public Works Department, and the recreation part would merge with Senior Services to form a new Recreation and Community Services Department. Sounds like the same thing with a different name? We thought so too. 

Mayor Dan Drew  was quoted by the Mess as saying he projects $150,000 in savings and “there are another number of savings that will become clear as time goes on.” Course he isn't adding in the pension packages he handed out to get rid of people the he couldn't manipulate.So what are the savings? Well, the apparently according to Drew, the Council will have to adopt it to see?!  What is so hard about showing some REAL data?? How about you be clear now- dare we say TRANSPARENT?

The Mess goes onto quote the Mayor as saying that essentially the merger needs to take place in order for Public Works and Park and Rec to share equipment. Again why they can't share now like big boys and girls is beyond us- and chances are they probably already do share! Excuse us Mr. Drew, these splendid, profound ideas you are having are really quite frightening in their deepness.

Christine Bourne,  president of  Municipal Employees Local 466, a city labor union, isn't buying the deal. Continuing to stand up - that's Ballz Bourne! You go girl!

The Mess quotes Bourne: “I think we’re trying to fix something that isn’t broken,”  “Any potential savings haven’t been shown to me, haven’t been shown to the union … our guys are concerned about what they’re going to be asked to do.”

The Mess article then goes on to talk about Bourne's recently settled labor dispute with the City which has absolutely nothing to do with the merger and appears to be a thinly veiled  and quite shallow attempt by the Mess to discredit Bourne. Nice try, but no cigar. 

Remember folks, Mayor Drew raised your taxes, cut your teachers, makes up new rules to the City Charter on a daily basis ( it's Administrative Assistant Joe Samolis - no such thing as Chief of Staff), perpetuated the violation of  the already violated worker rights of a union employee (Bourne) now proved by law, lies to the public, and we get 2 more years of our Dear Leader. Now that is a run -on sentence!

Don't worry, Kim Jong Un-Drew says for a cool $750K upfront cost, the City  can light the Arrigoni Bridge in colors of the the rainbow corresponding to his moods.

While less departments in theory sounds just dandy, previous posts laboriously explained the merger and by doing some no so fancy math to prove the numbers don't work are linked below: 

Editor's note background: 

 Want to know more about the Government ReOrg? Read the Insider Staff's analysis of the Government ReOrg here: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2012/12/city-governmen-re-org-part-ii.html  

The misleading merge of City Legal & BOE Legal:http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/01/apple-oranges-boe-budget-hikes.html 

John Milardo spoke of the downsides of the Governmnet ReOrg in a previous Guest Blog piece here:://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/01/guest-blog-his-town.html

Councilmember Linda Salafia also comments on negative aspects here: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/01/letter-editor-government-reorg-costly.html

Chairman of MRTC Ken McClellan discusses the reorg here: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/02/letter-to-editor-mayor-daniel-drews.html

Read the full report for yourself here: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2012/12/mayors-task-force-on-efficiency-report.html and packages here: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/01/who-gets-what-drew-cleans-house-with.html

John Milardo writes again of how the numbers don't add up to savings in a previous Guest Blog piece here

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/04/guest-blog-reorganization-by-john.html

Arbitrators Rules in Favor of Middletown AFSCME Union

 To read the judgement summaries use links here:

AFSCME Statement

Time line of of Dispute Events & Summary of Ruling 

From the Ruling Summary: "There is no way to sugar-coat the facts:  Ms. Bourne was treated horribly by the Board of Education.  

And when push came to shove, the City punished the victim."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 30, 2013

Contact: Larry Dorman (860) 989-9127 (cell) or (860) 612-3855 (office)

Arbitrators Rules in Favor of Middletown AFSCME Union

New Britain, CT — The union representing Middletown public service workers today applauded an arbitrator’s ruling that the City acted illegally when it transferred an employee from the Board of Education to the Parks and Recreation Department after she had raised concerns about the Board’s financial practices.

In a decision issued July 29, Arbitrator Roberta Golick found the City acted without just cause by removing the grievant, AFSCME Local 466 member Christine Bourne, from her position as Payroll Supervisor at the Board of Education and moving her to the position of Program/Budget Analyst in the Parks and Recreation Department.

The involuntary transfer took place in 2010 amid litigation between the City and the Board of Education.

Golick wrote, “There is no way to sugar-coat the facts: Ms. Bourne was treated horribly by the Board of Education. And when push came to shove, the City punished the victim.”

 In the award, Golick directed the City to immediately reinstate Bourne to her prior position at the Board of Education and to make her whole for any losses, if any, in wages and benefits for the period December 8, 2010 to date of reinstatement. She also directed the City and the Union to jointly attempt to calculate damages.

“Arbitrator Golick’s ruling is a victory for workers’ rights in the City of Middletown,” said Bourne, who was elected President of her bargaining unit in 2012. “Our union was caught in a political turf war, so I hope the arbitration award sends a strong message about the importance of respecting the collective bargaining agreement. You can’t discipline employees without just cause, and you can’t retaliate against them when they speak their mind. I’m glad this ordeal is over.”

Council 4 Staff Representative Ed Thibodeau advocated for Local 466 during the arbitration. Council 4 is the parent union of Local 466, which represents nearly 400 City and Board of Education employees in Middletown.

A copy of Arbitrator Golick’s ruling is attached to this press release.

# # #

Larry Dorman

Council 4 Public Affairs

(860) 612-3855 (Direct)

(860) 989-9127 (Cell)

ldorman@council4.org

www.council4.org

 

BREAKING NEWS: Frechette Really Was Fullashitte! Court Rules in Favor of Bourne

BREAKING NEWS: Remember how Mayor Dan Drew said he triumphantly ended ALL the lawsuits between the City & the BOE? Yeah...... LIE 

Frechette Really Was Fullashitte! 
Court Rules in Favor of Christine Bourne, former BOE Payroll Supervisor's labor case. Two years ago, Bourne lost her position for being a whistle blower regarding "misplaced" funds overseen by then Superintendent Frechette. Frechette since left the his superintendent position with a settlement paid for by taxpayers that was the size of Rhode Island !

From the Ruling Summary: "There is no way to sugar-coat the facts:  Ms. Bourne was treated horribly by the Board of Education.  

And when push came to shove, the City punished the victim."

At the time the Board of Education was headed by Superintendent Michael Frechette. Mayor Dan Drew was in office at the time when Bourne reapplied to the payroll position, but failed to reinstate her.

UPDATE:In an interview with the Middletown Patch, Mayor Drew is already trying to place ALL of the blame on the previous administration, despite the ruling and facts showing otherwise!! 

Mayor Drew responded to the ruling and his role regarding not reinstating Bourne long before: "Ibityibitty ibity thats thhats all folks!" and proceeded to hide behind Administrative Assistant ('cause thats his title by CHARTER not Chief of Staff) Joe Samolis's legs.

More details to follow!

In the mean time, read up on the Teflon Don and this topic in some oldies but goodies here:

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2012/03/good-question-why-doesnt-boe-just-show.html

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2012/02/scope-on-boe-superintendent-contract.html 

http://www.middletowninsider.com/2012/03/exactly-how-much-does-michael-frechette.html

 

Middletown's Tangled Web of Nepotism & Cronyism

So many connections it is hard for
 anyone to keep straight!
But if you thought Drew is new player
and not entrenched, boy were you wrong.

Irony is Mayor Drew co-sponsoring a job & resume workshop at Russel Library this week when he in fact inflated his resume, and is allowing exactly what he preached against- nepotism, cronyism, and dishonesty in government.
No credit has ever been given  to Former Mayor Seb Giuliano, and for that matter Christine Bourne who uncovered significant wrongdoing at the BOE as far as the million dollar discrepancy and pushed the issue - maybe a little harder than the public wanted, but he got the results. The Democrats consistently tried to block attempts to reform the BOE administration, including Mayor Dan Drew by trying to sweep on going labor disputes under the rug. The new administration was forced to deal with it when the audit came out with huge discrepancies and parents came out rightfully outraged over the "scream room" fiasco The current Democrats on the Common Council are trying to cash in on something that was started by Republicans.  Dr. David Larson is a breath of fresh air, as is Gene Nocera (D), along with new efforts by Shiela Daniels(D) and the new BOE members. However, Mayor Drew and the council have a lot to make up for. Mayor Drew stated in his own words he would end nepotism practices in City government. 

Readers can find the statement here: https://secure.democracyforamerica.com/campaigns/4164-drew-2011

Drew wrote: "Above all, I want to make Middletown’s government honest. For years, the city has suffered through decisions made in the best interests of municipal contractors and private developers who have political or familial connections."

Drew need not look further than his own party, whom he has yet to call out for wrongdoing. In 2009, Drew made statements published in the Wesleyan Argus stating “If the Water Department were a private organization in would be bankrupt.”  Former Finance Director James Reynolds was called in under the Giulaino administration to aid in correcting the accounting problems and when problems continued compounded by labor issues, Giuliano moved the Water Dept. to City Hall for closer monitoring by the Finance Dept. Upon his election, less than one month later, Drew moved the department back to its satellite location on River Road. The Department Director is Guy Russo, cousin of Democratic Councilman Tom Serra.

Democratic Councilwoman Hope Kasper played a huge part in the hiring of her own son-in-law, Joshua Burger at the BOE.  Mr. Burger was first hired as a temporary employee (and given health insurance benefits) to fill a vacancy which is the subject of a union grievance (still outstanding).  While the union’s issues are still making their way through the process with the State of Connecticut, Mr. Burger has been appointed by the Board of Education administration to the Payroll Supervisor position without following union posting requirements.   This was the position that Ms. Bourne was removed from by the BOE and also was part of the settlement agreement brokered by Judge Holzberg between the City and BOE; however, rather than filling the position properly, the BOE stated that they no longer needed the position.  This was called to question by several Republican candidates during the past election, yet the general public ignored this fact and Kasper won anyway.  It should be noted that Judge Holzberg is the spouse of a former Democratic Mayor of the City of Middletown. Holzberg has a close personal relationship with Superintendent Michael Frechette.

 Former Superintendent Michael Frechette openly and vigorously campaigned for Drew and Serra. Board of Education member Ted Razcka's wife is Assistant Registrar of Voters, a fulltime position with benefits but picked and appointed by the Democratic Registrar of Voters; ironically Razcka was the only member to vote EXTEND Business Manager Nancy Haynes contract after the audit showed there was $1 million in deficit. It was voted to get rid of Haynes 8-1. Razcka, ironically of course, was also the only hold out not to get rid of Frechette.  It cannot be ignored by the community that the relationship of Councilman Tom Serra to the Board of Education is also a long one. Allegations have been made repeatedly in public & during Council Meetings by former Middletown public school teacher Sal Carricoglia about Jason Serra, assistant coach at Middletown High and son of Tom Serra, and a cover up of  misconduct regarding the younger Serra's job performance. While yes, these are  rumors, the have never been fully aired, and yes, Carricoglia himself was dismissed from his position for alleged on the job misconduct; it is hard for the public to be able to discern the truth when any statements by Frechette are tainted with that fact he publicly campaigned for Serra and has a long standing personal relationship. Judge Holzberg presided over Carricoglia's latest trial. Councilman Serra stated publically that he did not feel Chief McMahon was entrenched enough in the community because he did not worship here, a statement that was made on record, and therefore Serra did not support the appointment of the Chief. Serra instead pushed for the installment of Chief McKenna, another fine officer. Carrogolia alleges that McKenna and Frechette were both part of the cover up of the misconduct of Jason Serra on the job, and thus support of McKenna for Chief is a favor on the elder Serra's behalf. We at the Insider don't mean to perpetuate slanderous rumors, but we think that the public should be made aware of all ties of those in elected office, and our Mayor should take a stand and bring these allegations to light to dismiss them once and for all.

 Ironically, after McKenna took the position of chief, Serra's nephew was made part of the police force. In a town of 40,000 such as Middletown it is no doubt that there are familial ties; at the Insider we see  nothing wrong with the hiring of relatives so long as they are qualified and all job candidates are given equal opportunity.  With Frechette gone, Dr. David Larson is charged with the daunting task of reviving the Board of Education administration, we can as citizens can only hope that when the position of Head Coach, that is currently on the BOE agenda as becoming vacant in June, that Dr. Larson fully & impartially vet the best person into that vacancy despite family ties, owed favors, or past affiliations if in fact they do exist.
 What happened to honesty in hiring practices?? It is also pertinent that  Mayor has proposed a relaxing of the qualifications for the position of City Attorney, against the unanimous opposition of the Personnel Review Committee and after posting it twice. There are many applicants who meet the current, higher standard so why does the Mayor want to "dumb down" the qualifications? Only one conclusion - he has a crony in mind who doesn't currently qualify. So much for "making government honest" 
All allegations true or false should be brought to daylight and discussed publicly, so that finally the citizens get the truth- and our new Mayor despite a shared political party should do no less than demand it.

Happy Mother's Day: Scroomin Student & Dan Drew Does Your Mother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZZuy_mqIY4

The Insider couldn't resist, even though many have already seen this video. In 2002 while a student at Uconn, Mayor Dan Drew appeared on the O'Reilly Factor defending the use of student funds toward funding an student run tv show called "I Did Your Mother." Many say he holds himself quite well up against up tv heavy weight Bill O'Reilly, however, one cannot ignore the fact that Drew claims free speech and the first amendment should protect such as show, yet misses the point entirely - almost like that of the missing $1 Million of BOE money - that money from a public university is being used to pay for the sexist & foul humored broadcast which was protested by other students at Uconn at the time, as O'Reiley points out several times during the interview.  A week ago a Wesleyan student made the papers because he got high on scrooms and wandered naked into a Middletown resident's home, tried to open a door, and exposed themselves to the minor child inside, that it is things like this that & the support of such an incident by other students as a "learning experience" on local blogs doesn't help the situation. Various news sources dispute whether the student was nude on the porch or in the street, and degree of nudity. Bottom line is he was high and tried to enter a person's home &; was disruptive enough police needed to tase him. This student was not charged with risk of injury to a minor, indecent exposure, breaking and entering, under the influence of drugs in public, no- he was ONLY charged with trespassing. If the situation were somehow reversed- how do you think a townie would be treated if he or she wandered into a dorm nude and high and a Wesleyan student under 18 were present? You can bet University President Michael Roth would be on the phone with Middletown police to have this person prosecuted to the fullest extent after fielding calls from angry parents. 

The Insider's point is that it is situations like this when illogical conclusions are reached for seemingly straight forward events, which then fuel the stereotyping of townies by Wes students and vice versus. We say treat everyone the same period, and maybe we can all get along and share Middletown- 

Let's agree on one thing first: Legally, once you are over the age of 18 you can vote and fight in a war, so the adage of "he was just a kid" doesn't cut it in our book for scroom man or Dan Drew as depicted above. Ok, maybe the Insider could excuse Drew's behavior on this show if say college was 20 years ago for him, and he had grown up a lot since, however, college ended for Dan was only a handful of years ago!


So Happy Mother's Day from the Insider! Happy Mother's Day to Councilwoman Debra Kleckoski who was kicked out of the local Democratic party when she had her children, but has kicked-butt ever since as a Republican, to Councilwoman Hope Kasper, who got her son-in-law Josh Berger a cushy job at the BOE when she was on the hiring committee & keeps trying to get herself free parking, to Lisa Santangelo, Godmother of the local Democratic Town Committee ;  to Union Mama and former 466 vice president Councilwoman Linda Salafia who shakes her finger at Mayor Dan Drew and scolds him properly on the Council floor & continues to do so when needed (which is often), to Izzi Greenberg of NEAT for keeping the North end tidy, to new mom Councilwoman Mary Bartolotta, it's nice the Dem's didn't can you like they did Deb, to Hot Mama Christine"Tell It Like It Is" Bourne- girl has some spunk!, Deb Bagley of Catales, Kitty Mama,  to P&;Z Commissioner Beth Emery- Bicycle Mama, to BOE member Cheryl McClellan- Millitary Mama, to Cassandra Day,  Patch Blog Mama, Brenda Wilson, Child Advocate Mama of the local Ryan Woods Foundation, to Nancy Haynes, &; Barbara Senges  at the BOE you both worked with Michael Frechette, whom only a mother could love (yet we cannot find any students' mothers who do), and to all the Middletown Mom's-
 THE INSIDER SOLUTES YOU! Happy Mother's day and thanks for keepin' all of us Middletowners in check!

Brave New Hope and Pension Thoughts!

April 17- Did you see Councilwoman Hope Kasper at last week’s budget hearing with the Mayor Tuesday night?  Well if you did, you sure missed one hell of a battle as Ms. Kasper took the bull by the horns and asked Mayor Daniel T. Drew question after question about the pension fund that Drew’s budget proposal has reduced the amount of funding that will be proposed to be paid into the pension fund.   Kasper was frustrated at times when Deputy Mayor Robert Santangelo called on new Councilman Todd Berch to give his input about Drew’s proposed city pension plan.   Kasper attempted to speak her words of wisdom about the pension plan and became quite upset when Santangelo called her speech, “out of line,” and continued to hear Councilman Berch’s take on the pension situation. 

“Oh, you listen to his point a view about the pension and not mine,” Kasper said harshly to the deputy mayor. “Is it because he is a man?” she asked as she shrugged in her chair.  It is the opinion of this writer that (seriously) Councilwoman Kasper showed courage and confidence at challenging the status quo of her party.  Good for you Hope, keep up the good fight.  One should recall a few years ago the plight of Democrat Debbie Kleckowski whose unpopular views on the Planning and Zoning Committee made her a Democrat target: thus she was quickly outed from the party. (I.e. Had independent views and is a woman??? Mmm, Hope is quite independent and is a woman. See a pattern?) In a strange twist of fate and karma, Kleckowsk swapped her party affiliation from DEM to GOP and was successfully was elected to an office on Middletown's Common Council.  Will  history repeat itself?

The Insider predicts:  Hope Kasper will not be running for Common Council or any other office on the Democrat ticket in 2013.  Don't get it? They will kick her off for having the goNads to stand her ground and speak her mind.   If you don’t agree to go with the Dem flow, (I.e. keep your mouth shut) then you pay the price, and in this case it’s Kasper’s political future.  Will she pull a Christine Bourne and run for mayor against her party? Will she change parties and  primary Earl V. Roberts (Note: Earl's orange vest jacket may be running on the Green Party Ticket) on the GOP side and hope to take the mayor’s office from that angle?   Here are some more predictions about some hopeful Mayoral candidates for 2013:

1)   Barbara Plum- Wants to run for Mayor but spends too much time in Middletown.

2)   Roy Krieger- Would force the city to buy two Mayor mobiles, which would drive the conservatives nutty?

3)   Shannon Blair- Could be a great mayor due to his high connections with city hall.

4)   Ralph Nader- Has to run for something

5)   Mayor McCheese- Has previous executive experience at McDonaldLand; was able to bring the budget in under a billion burgers.

6)   The Cantina- According to the charter, a building is not allowed to run for office. Note: They can have members of The Working Families Party sign their petition.

7)   Michael Johnson- Started as a Working Families party candidate and lost and then when he was appointed to replace a member of the P and Z commission became a Democrat quite quickly.  Hater? Nope, how was he able to change his party that quickly?

8)   Earl V. Roberts: Trust me he wants it so badly! He works on Roberts for Mayor signs in his barn. “Got Taxes?”

9)   Any Republican with the initials S.G. (It's worked three times so far)

10) Sal  C.– Would go to war with Portland and Cromwell and if he won would demand that his seat is next to T.S. and B.S.  “Nuff Said.”

Former Superintendent Forms Super Music Group

Frechette, Haynes and Senges- Together Again: $350,000 + One Million Tour

            It seems that former Superintend of Schools Michael Frechette and his merry duo of cronies aren’t done polluting the intellectual stimuli of the citizens of Middletown, he’s back and this time his assembled a band that consists of his former assistants: Barbara Senges on tuba and Nancy “The Illegal” Haynes on blowhorn.  Although not officially named yet, some Middletown residents are calling the trio "The Users" or "The Richies".

“Although I was paid a tremendous sum of money from the Middletown school system for doing nothing, I decided to get the band together and play a final gig at Kiegwin Middle School for all my adoring fans,” Dr. Michael Frechette told reporters last night at a literacy press conference last night in Middletown.  “I will be selling CDs and I hope the citizens band together to bring me back for education work in town, which of course would benefit me due to the large consulting fee I will charge the district,” Frechette said with a twinkle in his eye as he adjusted his diamond ring and asked Haynes in a sharp voice to, “move my Rolls [Royce].”

Recorded Live from the Scream Room!

For $12.99 plus shipping and consulting fees, fans get the following songs:

One NIGHT ONLY! (CD COVER)

1)       I Fought the Law and the I Won

2)          Chain, Chain, Chain of Fools.. (Middletown Residents are Suckers!)

3)           Hit me with your Best Shot

4)           You’re so Vain with Carly Simon

5)            Poker Face

6)            Hot For Teacher in the Scream Room

7)            Mo Money, MO Problems

8)           Miki’s Girls

9)             The 466 Blues (Contracts are Null and Void Anthem)

10)         It’s good to be the King

11)         Theme from the Godfather

12)         Don’t stop Believing

13)         The Mileage Anthem

14)         It’s the End of the World as We Know it. (Teachers need Supplies)

The Scoop on the BOE Superintendent Contract

The Middletown Insider would like to shed some light on the recent drama of the BOE administration this morning. In recent weeks news has broken that there is a $1 million deficit in the budget found by an independent accounting firm hired by the City to perform an annual routine audit. It also should be noted that the "temporary" hire for the BOE payroll position is past the 90 trail period and has become permanant earlier this week.. The person who was given this job by Superintendent Michael Frechette is the son in law of Councilwoman Hope Kasper (D). The conflict of interest arises in that Kasper was on the Hiring Commitee to fill this position.. This applicant did not score in the rankings for the position.Prior to the re-election of Kasper, then candidate Councilwoman Linda Salafia wrote letters published in the Middletown Press and on the Middletown Eye Blog condemning the blatant practice of nepotism that occurred; despite the proof of this, Kasper was elected anyway.
According to Councilwoman Linda Salafia (R) as posted in her facebook group this week: "The City of Middletown's charter states that the Mayor is the hiring authority for the City and BOE for all non-certified positions. The State upheld the Union's complaint, the BOE appealed and subsequently has withdrawn the complaint and the position is currently posted. However, the position that the BOE created illegally is still occupied at the BOE??? Because the rumors that I am hearing are saying that the emcumbent employee has an employment contract until the end of the school year, the BOE is not addressing the illegal position. I requested the employment contract of this employee under the FOI Act and was given a copy of the contract which is actually anybody's right to do so. What I found interesting was that the contract has as a term: until termination. ??? Appparently this contract does not expire at the end of the school year. Also, what was interesting was that, even though this has been a issue of several years, this contract was executed in August of 2011. So... a contract with no specific length of term, open ended, was written and signed in August of 2011?? Why?"
"There are some facts that need to be posted: right after the election, the press printed that the BOE had withdrawn their appeal of the State of CT DOL decision against the BOE in regards to Ms. Haynes' position and the union position of business manager. Although that was printed in November, the actual withdrawal was not done officially until the very end of December. Took awhile. Should be noted that the employee who applied for the position has declined to take the position and now the position is posted to the general public."

Good questions Councilwoman Salafia! So far only you and Councilwoman Kleckoski have publicly questioned the sanity behind the continued employment of Superintendent Michael Frechette and Business Manager Nancy Haynes.

The Middletown Press article that was published on Super Bowl Sunday, although the deficit in funds was initially brought up during the Finance Committee meeting that previous Wednesday explains the deficit that the annual audit found. The Press writes:" Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski, a Republican, called for the immediate termination of both Frechette and Haynes on Friday.
“The irresponsible behavior is endless...and it’s more than fiscal irresponsibility,” she said. “The Board of Education comes before the council and requests money. Once the council allows the allocation to go forward, the board of ed can do whatever it wants.”
Kleckowski said Frechette and Haynes have “demonstrated an inability to follow general accounting practices and provide clear and effective transparency.” She said the education board was granted an extra $1.3 million last fiscal year and the money “was squandered.”
“Frechette got a raise, Haynes got a raise and Senges got a raise,” Kleckowski said. “Not a single instructor got a raise.”
Kleckowski also called for an immediate review of administrators, including special education administrators, for receiving large sums of money for mileage reimbursements"."

According to his contract, Frechette does indeed have carte blanche to do (or not do) whatever he wants. This includes, hiring and firing staff at will, without necessarily publicly posting the positions, paying or not paying janitors and aids in a timely manner, giving himself and his administrator's raises, while teachers receive none and students are sent home with "supply wish lists" which parents are expected to go out and purchase for classrooms that are not properly stocked with things like paper and pencils you would expect that tax payer contributions would normally fund in a public school. Sound like a fairytale? 

Well, it is all true and available to for the average citizen to read. Written plain as day for all to read, according to his contract the superintendent is employed until terminated; he is perpetually in his second year of a three year never ending contract. In previous weeks before the discovery of the discrepancy of funds in the BOE budget (which mind you, Christine Bourne then City Treasurer & BOE administration employee brought to the attention of then Mayor Sebastian Giuliano a year ago, but thats a whole other story). According to the same Press article Mayor Dan Drew claims the deficit is merely an "over spend" and "difference in accounting practices." Is this like an "over share" or too much information moment? The Insider would like to point out when the average citizen over drafts his or her checking account, we do not get an "opps my bad" free pass from our banks as it seems the BOE administration is getting from the Mayor. The Insider would like to think that we can all agree on how to add and subtract; we would like to know what differences in accounting that Mayor Drew is talking about. Apparently, we the tax payer, have yet to get the memo on the new math being used by the BOE administration.
The bigger question is will Mayor Drew step up and call Frechette out on the carpet for all the issues that have occurred in his tenure? These include countless grievances by staff, delays in pay for staff who have worked overtime, complaints about transportation from parents over unsafe bus stops & recent action by the State Dept. of Education over this, complaints by parents about the closing of the DEAL program and cuts to Special Education,, improper hiring practices,, reports of bullying in schools, issues with requiring police to be present in the hallyways of the high school, low test scores, supply shortages in classrooms, and less than two weeks ago news that made Farm Hill Elementary the center of national controversy because of the use of what parents called "scream rooms." A truly sad moment for Middletown was when CNN & the Dr. Drew Show chimed in on un-padded, lockable, windowless, converted concrete block janitorial closets that Frechette knew staff were using to isolate both unruly students and special needs students. The Insider asks : Are we just at the tip of the iceberg with the BOE Administration as to what is really going on?
Bottomline:Today, when it comes to the budget deficit, it appears Superintendent Frechette's new nickname should be " Super Fullashitte."