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Thursday, August 1, 2013

FIVE DAY SUSPENSION, OR IS IT?

CITY EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUSPENDS EMPLOYEE FOR RACIAL EPITHET

--- NEWS AND COMMUNITY RELEASE---

 

(August 1, 2013) — On August 1, 2013 Andrew Jaffee, Director of Emergency Services & Telecommunications convened a Loudermill Hearing regarding the racial epithet stated by an Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher on July 22, 2013.

Based on the findings of the investigation and testimony presented during the hearing, Mr. Jaffee found just cause to issue discipline for violation of the City’s “Workplace Violence Policy” and Conduct Unbecoming an Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher.

When issuing discipline, the employee’s past performance, the City’s Progressive Discipline guide, and the seriousness and significance of the incident were considered.  As such, the employee will receive a five-day, unpaid suspension to begin Friday, August 2, 2013, and must attend Cultural Diversity training upon his return to work.

In addition, all employees of Emergency Services & Telecommunications will be required to attend Cultural Diversity training.   
 
It is still interesting that the city has not identified the dispatcher who apparently made the remarks. I am not sure why, but my sources have identified him as Andrew Nichols . Sources have also told me that an arrangement was made to actually , in the end, reduce the suspension to only one day rather than the five detailed in the Press Release above.
 
Although I think the suspension and diversity training is probably appropriate, where is the accountability for the department head that never notified the Mayor when the incident occurred. Should an e-mail from me to the Mayor's spokesperson be the first time Segarra was made aware of this? Doesn't a Department head have an obligation to advise the Mayor of a potential public relations disaster looming on the horizon?
 
And if my sources are correct, Jaffe originally denied that a recording of the conversation existed. I guess myself and other reporters kept pushing the issue, knowing that all radio conversations on the City's Radio system were stored on recordings. Late that afternoon the recording surfaced.

BE PROACTIVE

 
 
Summertime is vacation time and vacation's mean home burglaries. I meet people weekly after they have been burglarized and are considering a security system. Typically they are scrambling to gather information for both the police and their insurance company. Not surprisingly, very few people actually have an inventory of their valuable items

It is tough enough for most burglary victims when they walk into their homes and realize they have been victimized, then comes the real work of documenting their loss.

The form below is compliments of the Hartford Police Department Major Crimes Division .  Take a little time and document your valuables, computers, televisions, gaming modules, anything with a serial number that can be documented.

Hopefully you will never need it, but it will make things a lot less stressful if you do.

In the meantime, a security system is never a bad idea.

Home+Inventory+Log+11 2009

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RACIAL COMPLAINT

What is going on at Hartford City Hall? The Gorilla's in the mist, the "N" word and now the City of Hartford is paying a law firm $350.00 an hour to investigate claims of discrimination at Hartford's Department of Public Works.

The letter of engagement between Hartford's Deputy Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden and the law firm of Rogin Nassau, LLC was obtained today through a Freedom of Information request to the City.

Although specifics of the complaints have not been received yet, I have requested to review the files in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. The letter references Equal Employment Opportunities investigations at DPW( Department of Public Works).

The letter specifically details the fees of $375.00 an hour for attorney's time, associate attorneys billed at $200.00 an hour and legal assistants at $80.00 per hour.

The main question to me is why is it necessary to hire outside attorney's for this. Are the attorney's in Corporation Counsel not qualified to handle such matters or is everyone at City Hall so conflicted that no one can do their jobs? The City has prohibited police overtime, even for investigations related to homicides and serious crime, but we can pay an attorney $375.00 an hour?

 There also doesn't seem to be any cap on the amount that can be spent or billed.

I have to assume that the complaints have been well substantiated if the decision was made to spend this money. What changes will result and will anyone be held accountable if the complaints are true?


Tuesday, July 30, 2013

BUSTED



I guess I have a replacement for the Batman and Robin picture

FROM HPD:

On July 30, 2013, at 1628 hours, Jared Kupiec, age 30, of Hartford, was arrested by the Hartford Police Department. Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained by the Hartford Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division relating to his use of a City of Hartford vehicle. Kupiec was charged with Using a Motor Vehicle without the Owner’s Permission 53a-119b (Class A misdemeanor) and Interfering with Police 53a-167a (Class A misdemeanor). Kupiec turned himself in to the Hartford Police Department at 235 High Street without incident. He was processed through standard booking procedures and released on a written promise to appear (PTA). Kupiec has a court date scheduled for August 8, 2013.

 

The matter has been turned over to the Connecticut States Attorney’s Office.

 

THE "FACE THE STATE " LINK

Click on the link below to go to the Face the State program segment from Sunday, click on the third segment down

http://www.wfsb.com/category/213663/face-the-state

Monday, July 29, 2013

REJECTED...AGAIN

 
Sources are confirming that Hartford's Chief Operating Officer has once again been rejected for a management position she was seeking.
 
Sources have confirmed that although Kee-Borges applied for the Town Manager position in Bloomfield, she did not make the cut for the final interviews. My sources said she was one of 12 candidates and she didn't make the final cut, although the Courant says there were 15 applicants. FOI laws exempt the disclosure of candidates for an "Executive search" until a final decision is made, and even then the actual names of the "losers" can be withheld.
 
Kee Borges was also rejected by the Hartford City Council in her quest for the permanent Chief Operating Officer's position. Kee-Borges withdrew her nomination when it became evident that she had only one vote, Councilman Aponte, for her approval for the position.
 
Kee-Borges management has been called into question, especially after her New Year's Eve soiree with Mayor Pedro Segarra and his former Chief of Staff where they dined on Caviar, Rack of Lamb and Champagne, funded by the taxpayers on a City Credit Card.
 
Kee- Borges decision making and leadership has been in question for some time, beginning back in the  early 1990's when she was embroiled in another taxpayer funded controversy.  More on that here