Al P. has left the chamber

Former alder Al Paolillo turns his attention to Hartford to help New Haveners

NEW HAVEN — Al P. has left the chamber. Al Paolillo, the aldermanic representative from the Annex for 15 years and Democratic majority leader for six, wrapped up his final meeting on the board late last month and was clearly uncomfortable listening to the thanks his colleagues were expressing. The guy behind the scenes, who had no problem taking a tough public stance at aldermanic meetings, particularly on process and financial issues, does not like to talk about himself or listen to praise from others.

“Too bad,” Alder Anna Festa, D-10, said at that meeting. “This is your time to shine, even though you always shine in the background, you at least deserve this time.” She said when she first came on the board, she did not think she needed a mentor, she could handle this herself.

“Boy, was I wrong,” Festa said. The alder said she put her pride on a shelf and called him for guidance.

“I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for this board, but most importantly what you have done, and I’m certain will continue to do, for the residents of this city,” Festa said. She said she regards Paolillo as a good friend.

Other alders had expressed similar thanks in the caucus prior to the session, where Paolillo is said to have teared up.

“He has had a harder time leaving than he thought,” said Jorge Perez, former aldermanic president and now state banking commissioner and a close friend of Paolillo.

Alder Delphine Clyburn, D-20, said he was like a second alder in her ward, the attention he paid to it. Alder Brian Wingate, D-29, said he was a “soldier for the board,” who has left it in good hands.

In November 2016, Paolillo, with no opposition, was elected as the state representative from the 97th

District.

For the past year, he continued his role as the alder from Ward 17, in addition to going to Hartford for committee meetings, caucuses and legislative votes. He said he missed about five tallies in Hartford and one aldermanic meeting.

It was a baptism by fire, being part of a session that went 123 days beyond the fiscal year before lawmakers arrived at a budget, with another special session to fix a deficit in the near future.

There were times when he would start his day at the Rocky Hill office of John Hancock insurance, then head to the Legislative Office Building for committee meetings, leave for a 6 p.m. alder session in New Haven, and return again to Hartford for late votes.

“I loved it. I learned so much,” Paolillo said of his first year in an elected state position. He said his experience in New Haven has helped prepare him for the transition. “It’s been a frenzied pace, but one that I enjoyed. I’m learning the playbook as I go,” he said, thanks to the New Haven delegation.

He spoke about that and his long tenure in New Haven in his local “office,” in New Haven, which is the Dunkin’ Donuts on Forbes Avenue, where he can be found as early as 6:30 a.m., usually reading reports before the crowds increase and customers stop by to talk.

While this was a precedent setting year for state lawmakers, in terms of a time commitment, it became obvious to Paolillo that holding two legislative offices simultaneously, even in a more manageable session, “was not pragmatic.”

Going forward, “you have to be up there (in Hartford.) I want to be able to devote the time,” he said to the role of a state legislator.

Paolillo, at age 45, has a long political pedigree, having worked for Mayor John Daniels in college and in U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s office after graduating. As an alder for 15 years, he knows former Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and current Mayor Toni Harp well.

“They are dedicated, committed civil servants who have the best interest of the city in their hearts and I respect them tremendously, and anyone willing to run and be the chief elected official. We maintained good working relationships and that is the important thing, even though we may not always agree on policy,” Paolillio said.

Those disagreements were often pointed, with tough questions for department heads who couldn’t defend their positions or didn’t have the documentation to back them up. At endless budget meetings, it was painful to watch, but ultimately he would get the answers.

One official, who has since left, said Paolillo was tough, but it wasn’t personal or abusive and he was always prepared.

“If you challenge and get challenged, you are going to come up better. You are going to work better and you are going to have a better product,” Paolillo said.

There were battles over the Harp administration’s appointment of an additional school board member; staff salary increases without board approval and the failure to file paperwork for capital reimbursements from the state, among other issues.

He was proud to have pushed for increased pension contributions and convinced the city to take advantage of short-term borrowing to pay its pension obligations up front, rather than quarterly, saving some $1.2 million a year.

He opposed monetizing parking meter revenues as pushed in the last administration, as well as budgetdriven cuts to the police force, which the board was able to minimize. Paolillo said he also backed alternatives to deadly force and strongly supported the use of body cameras.

On development, he characterized the board as pro-business, although some developers have questioned the motives of some members when the process has dragged on.

Paolillo disagreed and said ultimately those projects that took awhile are better for it.

“Everyone should have a seat at the table to have a good outcome. There doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. There doesn’t have to be a win and loss column. When we have to pick up the pace, we do,” he said.

Officer Craig Miller, the president of the police union, said he was sad when Paolillo decided not to run again for alder after seven full terms.

“He helped us out in numerous ways. He is someone who would always get an answer to my questions or find someone who knew the answer,” Miller said. “We are losing a major supporter for our police department.”

Paolillo did 50 ridearounds with police during his career on the board, many of them with retired Lt. Vincent Anastasio, when he was district manager for the East Shore.

Anastasio said Paolillo was one of the most engaged alders he had worked with.

“He had a lot of empathy for the members and alway worked with the police and fire departments. He’d be at my office before I got there,” Anastasio said.

Part of that engagement was visiting constituents during the hurricane to see if they needed help. If a serious issue came up, “he’d be there no matter what time at night,” Anastasio said.

Assistant Fire Chief Orlando Marcano called him “a consummate professional” who always answered his calls.

Gerald Antunes, D-12, who is back for a second stint as an alder, was a captain on the police force before retiring after 27 years.

“He can be fun and openminded, but also stern and down to business,” Antunes said of Paolillo. “I learned a lot about the political side of things. He has been a great guide for the younger people on the board. Through his leadership, we got a lot of things right.”

“He treated everybody equally. He doesn’t have a prejudice,” Antunes said.

Two officers who disagreed with that, Sgt. Wilfredo Cruz and Assistant

Chief Luiz Casanova, have filed suits against the city.

Cruz claims his reassignment as district manager was racially motivated and charges that Paolillo used his position as alder to push him out. The city, in answering Cruz’ complaint, said Cruz was transferred because he was unresponsive to the community and crime increased under his watch. The Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities found the complaint had reasonable cause and allowed Cruz to proceed to court.

Casanova is in federal court, claiming he was passed over for chief and subjected to alleged harassment because he testified on behalf of Cruz before the CHRO.

Neither Paolillo nor other city officials named in the suits have commented, but a number of Hispanic firefighters and police said Paolillo had never exhibited racism in his dealings with them, but rather had helped them.

The independence of the board was also an important tenet under Paolillo’s leadership and one fully embraced by his colleagues.

“It is meant to be an independent body . ... Ultimately, you want to work in partnership with an administration ... But there is a process” Paolillo said.

Former Supt. of Schools Reginald Mayo said Paolillo’s departure from the board was a “great loss.”

Paolillo