The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters have found one Connecticut fire district where commissioners earn thousands, including bonuses, get free gas and they have taxing authority.
Read the full story here.
Here is the full interview investigative reporter Len Besthoff had with a representative from Blue Hill Fire District:
Q: In an earlier response to an FOI request, Commissioner Farmer said regarding the annual $5000 stipend and 20 gallons of gas per week for each commissioner that..."Those precedents were set many, many years ago and have been followed traditionally by each administration." Is that also the case for the FYE (fiscal year end) bonuses and the Christmas bonuses? Also, how are the bonuses calculated? We noticed Commissioner Hughes received a $600 Christmas bonus while the other two commissioners received $2000 Christmas bonuses.
Answer from Blue Hills Fire Commission: Christmas bonuses for paid employees and Commissioners have been in existence for quite some time. Performance bonuses began approximately 3 years ago. Funds for both types of payments are budgeted by the District.
For Commissioners the Christmas bonus in 2015 was calculated based on relative performance and active participation in business of the District. Commissioners evaluated each other, and the amounts paid out ($2000 to Commissioners Farmer and Marzouca-Jaunai and $600 to Commissioner Hughes) were based on those evaluations. As far as the fiscal year end performance bonuses all Commissioners received $6000. For paid employees the fiscal year end performance bonuses ranged from 3% to 10% of base pay and were based on job performance. Paid employees received up to a week of base pay for their Christmas bonus.
Q: This year commissioners held an executive session at the Chowder Pot restaurant in Hartford, outside the district. We understand notice was posted inside the fire headquarters. Was it posted elsewhere? Why did the commissioners hold an executive session outside the district, at a private restaurant, when state law says even executive sessions must be opened and adjourned in public, and then put into executive session, with the reasons for the meeting and any votes taken disclosed to the public? What accomodations, if any, were made for the public to attend at least the opening and adjournment of this executive session? Since an executive session is for members of a board or commission to discuss sensitive issues, what steps were taken to insure that no one at neighboring tables or booths in the restaurant were not within earshot once the meeting went into executive session? On the one notice for the meeting we obtained, it said the executive session was to for a "fiscal year discussion". Why did that need to be behind closed doors? Also, why did commissioners charge a $90+ restaurant bill to the district from the Chowder Pot?
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Answer from Blue Hills Fire Commission: Public notice for the Commissioners meeting in July 2016 was posted only in the firehouse. We should not have held such meeting outside of the District; nor should our discussion have been in executive session. For many years we have been deficient at compliance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and the meeting at the restaurant is just one example of that. We are seeking and advice and guidance to be sure we comply with FOIA rules in the future. No decisions, no votes and no action was taken at this meeting. The Commissioners discussed the retirement of the Assistant Chief, whether to fill his position, operating procedures for the future and fundraising to purchase equipment. We are putting together minutes of that meeting and I will be glad to send them to you once they are completed if you would like them. As for the meal charge, we did charge the expense to the District as we were meeting for the purpose of discussing District business.
Q: Why does the district give its fire commissioners cellphones and credit cards?
Answer from Blue Hills Fire Commission: Have in the past been issued cell phones as we get calls from our paid employees and members of the public regarding business of the District. We do not maintain office hours and so the cell phones keep us in contact with the firefighters and members of the public. Commissioners are issued District credit cards to purchase fuel, to the extent of our weekly fuel allowances, and other purchases made on behalf of the District. Commissioners should not make purchases for personal items using their District cards and if they do use the District card in an exceptional circumstance they promptly reimburse the District for such purchases.
