Winsted Town Manager Suspended

The Winsted Board of Selectmen voted Thursday to suspend Town Manager Dale Martin with the intent of firing him after 30 days, according to the Register Citizen.

The board’s two Democrats stood by Martin but were outnumbered by the five Republicans who wanted him out, the town clerk said.

A resolution obtained by the Register Citizen cites a loss of confidence “in the ability of the Town Manager to perform his duties” and says Martin failed to “lead the recovery from a period of failed oversight.”

Last winter, former finance director Henry Centrella was charged with embezzling $2 million, nearly forcing the closure of a school due to inadequate funding. He was sentenced in April to 11 years in prison.

The resolution also alleges that Martin showed poor judgment in negotiating the sale of the blighted Lambert Kay factory building. The deal fell through and town officials learned that the man brokering the deal was a convicted scam artist with a “documented record of long-standing fraudulent dealings.”

The board says Martin’s 2013-2014 budget fell short and that he failed to complete two consecutive annual reports. According to the resolution, he also neglected to appoint an interim town manager when he went of town for two weeks.

Martin is now entitled to a public hearing, which will be held Thursday, Sept. 18, the resolution says.

The Register Citizen reports that Martin was also suspended and fired from his post as city manager in Davison, Michigan in 2010.

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