Stricter oversight needed in West Haven
Beset by scandals in every direction, West Haven represents the worst-case scenario for municipal governance. The state’s response is vital to ensuring the return of some semblance of trust in government.
Gov. Ned Lamont approved a plan this week to put the city under the tightest oversight as allowed under state law, in a city that was already under close watch. Under the new plan, the state-run Municipal Accountability Review Board would be granted more power to set local budgets, make purchasing decisions and potentially affect labor agreements with public employee unions.
It’s an extreme step, but one necessitated by a cascading series of missteps and misbehavior. The rest of the state should be watching closely to see how the municipality responds.
The city has been under MARB oversight for five years following a local $18 million shortfall that led to deficit bonding and subsequent state action. The situation has improved since then, in part thanks to an infusion of state aid, but problems have continued.
Most visibly, there was the arrest and resignation of state Rep. Michael DiMassa, a Democrat who also worked for city government and was charged with misdirecting federal COVID relief funds. More charges from that alleged scheme have followed, but the problems are hardly limited to one incident. A separate audit found more misuse of federal COVID funds, which drew calls for wider audits to make sure the millions of dollars flowing into towns and cities were being properly directed.
In some ways, it’s heartening to see charges filed over such cases. That means abuse doesn’t go unpunished, and that there are consequences for misappropriating funds. But it raises questions of how much wider the problem might be.
In West Haven, the problem is much wider. Lamont’s action was driven by what he called inadequate oversight by local leaders.
“As detailed in the MARB report, there is an obvious lack of fiscal controls in West Haven and it is necessary for the state to step in and provide the oversight and accountability that the residents of the town and the state deserve,” Lamont said in approving the stricter controls.
Mayor Nancy Rossi, who was reelected to her third term in office last year, has said the city will cooperate with the increased state oversight, but she has faced calls for her to step down over the continued problems. Lamont has declined to seek her resignation, but this latest move will only increase the political pressure she is facing.
The rest of Connecticut needs to pay attention, too. While many cities have faced financial difficulties over the years, it’s rare for the state to take such extreme steps. But even as local officials say their situation has improved, there’s little question that such actions are warranted. West Haven needs to get its house in order, and it needs help to get there.
It shouldn’t take state action for municipalities to balance their books, no matter what challenges they’re facing. It’s vital that what happens in West Haven does not become routine.