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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
COMMISSION |
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In
the Matter of a Complaint by |
FINAL
DECISION |
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Nancy
Valentine, |
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Complainants |
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against |
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Docket
#FIC 1999-189 |
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Board
of Aldermen, City of Ansonia |
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Respondents |
October
13, 1999 |
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The above-captioned matter was scheduled to be heard as a contested case on June 4 and July 28, 1999, at which times the complainant and the respondent appeared in order to present testimony and argument on the complaint.
Following wide-ranging and detailed informal conferences on June 4 and July 28, 1999, the complainant and the respondent reached the terms of an agreement in resolution of this contested case as well as other matters which have produced protracted stalemate in a variety of important departments of Ansonia’s municipal government. The parties agreed with each other concerning several matters beyond the scope of the Commission’s jurisdiction, to wit:
1) that Brian Phipps would be re-appointed by the Mayor to serve as Police Commissioner;
2) that a separate panel of citizens would be convened concerning both the office of Comptroller and the City Engineer, in order to recommend appointees for such offices to the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen;
3) that the respondent will not file a lawsuit in court against the Mayor concerning her official actions relating to municipal appointments; and
4) that the parties will work toward convening a charter revision commission for the Town of Ansonia, in order to address in a positive fashion issues concerning municipal appointments and related matters.
Based upon this agreement, the complainant informed the Commission that she wished to withdraw her complaint without prejudice to its merits.
The Commission warmly commends both the complainant and the respondent for working successfully to negotiate a non-litigated settlement of their earlier substantial differences. The Commission hopes that a foundation has been laid for a more harmonious, productive relationship between the parties, wherein they will be able to work cooperatively for the betterment of the Town of Ansonia. Only if such a spirit is maintained will the parties be able to address successfully the public matters that still lie ahead of them and concerning which they share responsibility.
The following order by the Commission is hereby recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above-captioned complaint:
1. The complaint is hereby dismissed without prejudice.
Approved by Order of the Freedom of Information Commission at its regular meeting of
October 13, 1999.
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Melanie R. Balfour
Acting Clerk of the Commission
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-180(c), G.S., THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NAMES OF EACH PARTY AND THE MOST RECENT MAILING ADDRESS, PROVIDED TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION, OF THE PARTIES OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.
THE PARTIES TO THIS CONTESTED CASE ARE:
Nancy Valentine
253 Main Street
Ansonia, CT 06401
Board of Alderman, City of
Ansonia
c/o Atty. David C. Yale
Law Office of Laura M.
Mooney, LLC
203 Church Street
P.O. Box 645
Naugatuck, CT 06770
__________________________
Melanie R. Balfour
Acting Clerk of the Commission
FIC1999-189/FD/mes/10141999