DTC chairperson rips Boughton, city officials over mistakes made in firefighter lawsuit

In an upcoming News-Times letter to the editor, Danbury Democratic Town Committee chairperson Lynn Taborsak criticizes Mayor Boughton, Former Fire Chief/At-Large City Councilman Phil Curran and Civil Service Chairman Mike Finn for their alleged roles in the firefighter lawsuit.

Taborsak letter gives more insight into the case and why city officials have an obligation to explain to the public details about the admitted "administrative errors" that resulted in the city settling the lawsuit.

There is good news for the residents of Danbury! The city is now accepting applications for the position of entry level firefighter! Applications will be accepted until June 23rd. Let’s hope this round of hiring strictly follows civil service rules and let’s make sure our “part-time” Mayor understands how a merit eligibility list works. It requires selections to be made on the sole basis of ability as demonstrated by the examination. We don’t want another lawsuit or another $450,000 settlement coming out of city coffers. That money could have been used to save five or six teaching positions in this year’s school budget.

However, mistakes were made and they cannot be explained away as simple administrative errors. There were eight rounds of hiring using the old list and in every single round the city made the same mistake over and over. In every round the Mayor selected less qualified candidates over better qualified candidates and the City Council went along and approved them. It’s outrageous that one of the less qualified candidates was engaged to Acting-Chief Philip Curran’s daughter and that a second less qualified candidate was the son of Michael Finn, Chairman of the Civil Service Commission These particular selections give an appearance of bias or favoritism.

I don’t think the Mayor would make the same mistake eight times in a row. One time is a mistake. Eight times is purposeful and willful. He must think that he can get away with anything.

I think it is embarrassing that a Ridgefield attorney had to go into court for a Writ of Mandamus to make the City follow its own rules. Add to that $450,000 settlement another $180,000 that our municipal risk insurance paid to defend us for making the same mistake over and over.

The public has a right to know what happened in this case where the city's admitted wrongdoing probably costs taxpayers over 600,000 in settlement cost and attorney fees and Boughton's continued silence on the matter speaks volumes about his leadership qualities.