‘Deep-rooted and longstanding issues’ found
Report recommends leadership change at Pomperaug district health agency
SOUTHBURY — An investigation opened in Pomperaug District Department of Health into allegations involving its director, Neal Lustig, concluded that the department had wide-ranging, systemic and cultural problems, according to a report filed by an independent investigator.
The report concluded, in part, that “it is unclear, [REDACTED] whether PDDH can competently function at this juncture with the Director at the helm. Such deep-rooted and longstanding issues within PDDH indicate the need for leadership change.”
Lustig was employed by the district that serves Southbury, Oxford, and Woodbury for over three decades before being suspended on June 2, following a complaint filed by a new deputy director and an
ensuing office incident with another employee, according to documents.
Sean Falzarano, who was recently hired as deputy director, sent a “Letter of Concern” to the department’s board of directors on May 28 citing Lustig’s office conduct and staff harassment, saying the director was “putting our relationships at risk (i.e. the Town of Oxford and the Oxford School System).”
The office incident on June 2 was fully redacted in documents from Pomperaug Health.
Documents obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media say that an “independent, third-party investigation” conducted approximately nine hours of interviews with district employees on June 3 and outlined the issues in a heavily redacted document.
The interviewer was contracted on June 1 by the board of directors to “conduct a Human Resources Investigation” of the allegations, documents show. Lustig did not participate in the interviews as he was informed he could not have his legal counsel present, according to his lawyer, Eric Brown.
The investigation found “[REDACTED] many years’ worth of misconduct on the part of the director: unprofessional behavior, retaliation, breach of confidentiality, bullying, lack of leadership, and general dysfunction within the office environment.”
The interviewer recommended office-wide behavior training and behavioral coaching, anti-harassment, anti-bullying, and antidiscrimination training.
The report also criticized board oversight of the department, saying it needed to periodically check in with staff and review policies and procedures.
“The trust that has been broken must be repaired, and the Board should work to address the skepticism of employees that action will be taken regarding any future inappropriate conduct at PDDH,” the report read in part.
Brown said that because the investigation was paid for by the district, it was biased.
“We disagree with the conclusion that this socalled investigator made,” Brown said when reached by phone Thursday. “That report was bought and paid for by the district so there’s no independence.”
In an interview in June, Brown said the terms of Lustig’s suspension held no truth to them and the accusations were rooted in anti-semitism and a desire to oust Lustig from his position.
The original email Falzarano sent to the board, disclosed in a Freedom of Information Act request, claimed Lustig’s behavior was “putting this department in jeopardy.”
He expressed concern about Lustig’s “unprofessional” behavior and said the department was faced with the risk of several staff resignations, including his own. Accusations also included putting local relationships at risk, harassment of staff, and concerns about business and community partnerships, including the town of Oxford.
In a response letter, Lustig denied the accusations and called them “meritless.” The letter also says that Falzarano did not approach Lustig with his concerns.
“That I am in a position, after 33 years of unblemished service to the District, of having to defend myself against libelous allegations from a newlyhired employee is confounding,” Lustig wrote. Lustig also stated in the letter that he had heard no complaints from Oxford.
However, a letter addressed to Lustig and obtained by Hearst Connecticut outlined some of the discontent from the town’s first selectman.
The Sept. 9, 2020 letter from Oxford’s First Selectman George Temple states that the town leader was “becoming more concerned about our relationship with Pomperaug Health” and that he was “not pleased by your attitude toward Oxford during the Covid-19 crisis.”
Temple went on to say he got the impression Oxford “took secondary importance” to Lustig and “that we were more of an annoyance to you rather than a municipality in need of your services.”
When asked about the letter, Brown said it was normal for politicians and health directors to disagree.
“Any time that you have a director of health charged with maintaining the public health, the health director’s interest may diverge from the interest of the politicians,” he said.
Brown said he thought Falzarano may have wanted Lustig’s job.
“Within four weeks he was making these outrageous allegations against Neal, a 33-year employee who never had any allegations made against him,” Brown said.
The investigation report states that “this interviewer cannot say for certain that the Deputy Director intends to take the role of Director.” In its conclusion, it suggested that the “Deputy Director should not be considered for this Director role,” and instead advised eliminating the deputy director role or scaling it back.
Pomperaug Health and their lawyer, Anthony Minchella, would not comment on the status of Lustig’s employment.