Some recent statements about the controversy surrounding the conduct of some former Trumbull Housing Authority members, as well as its former attorney, State Senator Anthony Musto, are wraught with misdirection--if not outright deception. What is especially disturbing and heart-breaking is that it appears that Senator Musto and some former housing authority members decided to play politics with the lives of Trumbull’s most precious population - - our seniors. Decisions made not to prepare for or assist resident seniors during hurricane Sandy were morally unconscionable. State Senator Anthony Musto’s recent response clearly reflects his circumvention of the core issues in this matter. It is essential to ignore the spin, and consider the facts:
During Hurricane Sandy, the Town’s Emergency Management Department and the Town’s Fire Marshal reported serious problems with the lack of emergency management response for Stern Village. In response to their verbal concerns, First Selectman Herbst asked for a full report detailing all of the problems.
During the hurricane, as police, fire and EMS personnel went door to door at Stern Village to try and evacuate seniors because of deteriorating and dangerous weather conditions, the Executive Director of the authority had left for the day and cited the fact that the complex is categorized as “Independent living” and therefore it was not his responsibility. Also, the Executive Director does not own a cell phone, so it was difficult to reach him.
Furthermore, the Executive Director’s office was unable to provide an accurate list containing the names of Stern Village residents. Improper record keeping unfortunately and most sadly led to the misidentification of a deceased woman who was found at the complex. With many days advance notice of the storm, there does not appear to be any justifiable reason that a current list of residents and associated emergency contacts was not available. Inaccurate information needlessly risked the safety and welfare of seniors at Stern Village.
In the summer of 2011, the Town’s Emergency Management Department recommended a series of measures based on Hurricane Irene, including the installation of a generator. The emergency preparation recommendations were to be undertaken by the former housing authority members in the event of another weather related emergency. Unfortunately, more than a year after their recommendations were made, the former housing authority members and the Executive Director failed to implement the core recommendations of the emergency response plan. Since none of the emergency measures were implemented, residents of Stern Village had to evacuate. The inaction of the former housing authority members was unacceptable, and reflects an insufficient interest in protecting the residents of Stern Village. The residents of Stern Village deserve quality leadership and compassion at all times, and especially during dangerous storms.
Additionally, despite a specific recommendation in the emergency plan to do so, there were not any emergency plans prepared in regard to providing alternate housing for Stern Village residents that were medically unable to go to a shelter. Some of the residents of Stern Village were evacuated to a local school. However, some were not able to do so and should have been provided shelter at other senior housing complexes (E.g. St. Joseph’s Manor or Spring Meadow). Instead, the Executive Director stated that the residents unable to go to the shelter would have to move out of Stern Village.
Former Housing Authority Chair Judi Stern scheduled a meeting without any regard for the processes outlined in the Trumbull Town Charter, the seniors or the public. It is irresponsible and unacceptable that their meeting was not posted in the Town Clerk’s office or on the Town website. The residents of Stern Village and the public deserve transparency and forthright behavior at all times. Why so secret?
During the illegal meeting, they proceeded and went into executive session. When they emerged, they voted to approve a two year extension for the Executive Director, Harry Wise. They did this despite all of the problems, including a lack of responsiveness of the Executive Director, identified in the reports from the Emergency Management Operations Center and the Fire Marshal. To make matters worse, no performance evaluation had been conducted for him over the last several years.
Their attorney, Senator Musto also participated in the executive session and emerged with a prepared contract which extended the Executive Director’s employment at Stern Village. Among the new contract provisions, if the authority removed Mr. Wise for cause, he has six months to “cure”. Also, if the authority removed Mr. Wise for cause and he decided to sue the authority, the Town must pay for his legal fees if he prevailed. The fact that Senator Musto had the contract prepared that night means that the Chair of the authority, Mrs. Stern and Senator Musto worked in concert before the meeting to orchestrate the contract extension. Fortunately, the Town Attorney has concluded that all actions taken at the illegal meeting, including approving this contract, were null and void.
This type of conduct and disregard for the seniors and the public is a disgrace and extremely embarrassing for our town. Where was the compassion for our seniors?
After all, “Compassion is the basis of all morality.”-Arthur Schopenhauer
Sincerely,
Joanna Leone
If there were issues with Stern Village, then the correct way to handle them is to work with the leadership of Stern Village to correct them, not perform yet another political coup where Republican cronies are appointed to positions and immediately begin throwing mud on individuals with a long record of distinguished service to our Community in particular Stern Village. Sadly, the issues raised could have been easily resolved with a meeting consisting of the Fire Marshall, The Emergency Management Team and Stern Village leadership. If a cell phone is needed, then he should be given one. It seems everyone at Town Hall has a brand new I-phone, what is one more? If a generator is needed, find a way to see it happens. If concern for the residents was the real issue, address the problems. Instead we get the silly politics that has infected every element of our Town.
That said, Ms. Leone is a newcomer to Trumbull politics, and I will give her one piece of advice, which she can take or leave. From my own personal experience, I can tell her that there is political and personal retribution and payback in much of what has gone on in this town for the last three years. In this case, although Ms. Judith Stern is not political, her late husband, Bruce, was the Democratic Treasurer of the Town of Trumbull for 14 years. I don't think the recent actions at Stern Village are a coincidence given that fact. When I first became in politics in Trumbull, I listened to the stories told by Mr. Herbst about the politics in Trumbull. Only once I got to know everyone on both sides of the aisle did I find out that there are two sides to these stories, and much of what I was told was completely untrue. I hope that Ms. Leone will talk to people on both sides of the aisle and form her own conclusions. By the way, not everything that is said on either of side of the aisle is completely true, but those who only listen to one side are not getting the whole picture.
There seems to be such a lack of civil communication, or any communication at all between republicans and democrats. This is why nothing gets done...everyone just flings mash potatoes, and then ducks for the incoming spoon full of peas
And to the Patch editor...you took out an insightful, and appropriately challenging comment this morning for no good reason, but yet kept an opinion-laden article that clearly is not written by its author. What is your accountability?
As a 7 year elected public official I would recommend to Ms. Leone that, as an intelligent and well meaning person, you do not do the dirty work of others. I am sure you know that the way to handle this situation was to sit with Mr. Wise, Ms. Stern and Town officials to review the situation and put in place procedures to see that any shortcomings were not repeated. As for this so called "illegal meeting", only the FOI Commission can make that judgement, not the FS, not Owens Shine and Nicola, and not Ms. Leone. Personally, this "illegal meeeting" is IMHO nothing but baloney.
You guys are so steeped in your envy of recent Republican electoral success in Trumbull--and your personal lists of grievances against the FS--that you cannot resist the temptation to regurgitate them at least weekly on Patch! More objective observers/readers of changes made to management and the board over the Stern Village debacle during hurricane Sandy as the only responsible thing to do! When the Police, Fire, EMS etc. have clearly identified and reported the serious safety and emergency preparedness failures of the manager at Stern Village, and the fact that he was inaccessible during the emergency--and was unapologetic (if not uncaring) about the plight of senior residents under his charge--the only logical conclusion is that the person needs to be fired!! Mr. Tesoro, in his post yesterday, advocated instead a course of baby-sitting and hand-holding for the failed management. Give me a break. I hardly think he would have called the logical ACCOUNTABILITY for FAILURE "political" if Baldwin had refused to renew the contract of an incompetent employee.
The people at Stern Village, Ms. Stern and Mr. Wise in particular, have a long history of good service to that portion of our Community. They deserve more respect than was shown to them. Your conclusions regarding Mr. Wise are just that your opinions. The fire Marshall recommended getting a cell phone, a generator and an updated list of residents. All of which are good recommendations and should be done and could be done without the silly dramatics and putrid politics. Finally, I have no sour grapes, in fact, I would suggest that the actions of Trumbull Republicans with their purges and the like are indicative of a vindictive mindset that is not worthy of our Community. I have no personal grievance with the FS and in fact respect him enough to tell him when he is wrong. I believe he knows that very well. I also had no problem telling Mr. Baldwin when I felt he was wrong. However, it must be pointed out that when Mr. Baldwin was in office he was regularly criticized by the loyal opposition. It seems to me if you can dish it out, you should be able to take it when your time comes.
These are the kinds of things that happen when politics intrude on a matter that should have been handled with discretion. I have lived in Trumbull for nearly 22 years. I have had the pleasure of going to Stern Village to bring residents to the polls. Lovely people who seem to enjoy the community. In all those years I have never seen anything like the nonsense that we are now witnessing. Why the need to malign Ms. Stern and Mr. Wise? Why the need to change Counsel in a particularly egregious manner? Why the need to politicize a body that heretofore was not political. Why the need to stuff every Board and Commission with Republican cronies while at the same time rejecting qualified nominees put forward by Democrats? We are all friends and neighbors and should remember that electoral success is fleeting and that you reap what you sow. Our Community has had in the past and deserves once again civility in our Government and in our interactions with each other.
Please retract them. Anthony Musto