The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Town manager: No plan to quit
CROMWELL — Town Manager Anthony Salvatore said he does not plan to resign in response to calls for him to step down made by two Town Council members after a federal jury found the municipality liable for discriminatory practices.
The jury deemed the practices led to the closure of a home in town for adults with disabilities run by Gilead Community Services. The actions allegedly began at a public forum where residents made comments deemed to be discriminatory, according to the Connecticut Fair Housing Center. The next day, the town asked Gilead to relocate the home.
The jury awarded Gilead Community Services $5
million in punitive damages and $181,000 in compensatory damages. The town plans to appeal the ruling.
In response to the jury’s verdict, council members Al Waters and James Demetriades released a statement Monday calling for Salvatore’s resignation.
Salvatore made it clear that this would not happen. “I have no intentions of resigning,” he said.
The town manager, a former Cromwell police chief, indicated he would not speak further on the matter, so as to not influence the outcome of the town’s appeal.
Waters said Tuesday that, even if Salvatore doesn’t resign, he should feel the pressure from taxpayers.
“It’s time to put our foot down,” Waters said. “The taxpayers want to know where this money is going to come from.”
Waters said he believes insurance would cover the cost, but that it’s an embarrassing situation for the town. He doesn’t believe the situation will improve, either.
“We’ll just have to put our seat belts on and hang on for the ride,” the councilman said.
Waters and Demetriades also called for the town to seek new legal representation.
Cromwell Mayor Enzo Faienza wrote in a short statement on Facebook that the town has viable grounds for appeal and motions are being prepared. Faienza also noted the claims against Salvatore, town employees and himself were dismissed prior to trial.
In May 2015, Cromwell had petitioned the state Department of Public Health claiming Gilead had failed to comply with several state statutes governing the opening a group home. The town asked the state to deny Gilead’s application.