veto Resolution #31338 BY MAY0R TIMOTHY STEWART

March 16, 2011

The Honorable Peter Denuzze
Town and City Clerk
27 West Main Street
New Britain, CT 06051

Dear Mr. Denuzze:

Two tenets that play a pivotal role in our democratic process are transparency and fairness. Unfortunately, the recent resolution passed by the Common Council that singles out Council members who own businesses is neither fair nor transparent and comes precariously close to being unconstitutional.

This resolution, under the guise of a harmless report, is the latest salvo in a battle of partisan mudslinging. Caught in the crossfire are two community minded businessmen, Alderman Mark Bernacki and Alderman Willy Pabon who are wrongly accused of circumventing City purchasing procedures. Without evidence and despite repeated clarifications from Finance Director Robert Curry and others that all procurement processes and procedures have been followed, this vendetta continues.

If the Council was truly interested in full and fair disclosure of City work or payments that could be a possible conflict for those serving on the Council or as Mayor, this report would include ALL employers of those elected officials whether it be profit, not for profit or government entity. The Democrat Council members certainly gave the message loud and clear that fairness was not their aim when they roundly turned aside suggestions to do just that.

Our justice system and constitution is predicated upon equal treatment and against singling out a person or class of persons for discriminatory treatment. Yet the Democratic Council majority does just that by placing a target on Aldermen Bernacki and Pabon by precisely wording this resolution so that for all practical purposes it applies only to them. City Corporation Counsel previously warned that Council that such uncorroborated allegations could lead to defamation litigation from those so unjustly accused, but the Council majority ignores prudent legal advice and forges ahead with this witch hunt.

The claim that the aim of this resolution is not personal or political from Alderman DeFronzo, the sponsor of this resolution, is disingenuous. During the course of debate on this resolution, Alderman DeFronzo’s own words prove otherwise as he refers to the Republican members of the Council as “the other side” making it clear that this was a political battle, not an attempt at good government. Again, if full and fair disclosure and not political sniping were the goals, the resolution would include all employers or businesses and not just a select few.
Denuzze
Page Two
March 16, 2011

Some may characterize this veto as being political in nature. I will state unequivocally that should a resolution reach my desk that includes payments made by the City to any entity employing or owned by the Mayor or a member of the Council, I would sign and support that. There is no good reason aside from politics to exclude any group. It’s all public information and available for the asking. And if Council members feel the public would benefit from reports, then more information would be of greater benefit to the public.

In fact, if people are genuinely interested in disclosure, all potential conflicts should be disclosed. To that end, I would encourage inclusion of spouses’ employers in order to see all potential sources of conflict as money winds up in the same household. Shouldn’t it be the public who decides the implications of $77 thousand over ten years on small printing jobs to Alderman Bernacki’s business AND $2.2 million over the same time period that went to the Human Resources Agency of New Britain which employs Alderman Trueworthy’s wife? Having the Council interject their political slant and filter is an insult to the intelligence of the voting public.

For the above reasons, and with all due respect to the Council, I hereby veto Resolution #31338 of the March 9, 2011 meeting of the New Britain Common Council. If we take supporters of this resolution at their word that this is not political or personal, they will come back with a fairer, more balanced approach to this reporting of city payments to the Mayor and Council members and spare the City further hypocrisy.


Sincerely,




Timothy T. Stewart
Mayor, City of New Britain

cc: Common Council
Gennaro Bizzarro, Corporation Counsel
Robert Curry, Finance Director