DERBY — Town’s new finance director was positioned on administrative depart earlier this month and city officers are nonetheless mum on the explanation why.
Agata Herasimowicz was employed final Might in an effort by the mayor’s workplace to professionalize the place, which was previously a political appointment. Mayor Richard Dziekan confirmed Herasimowicz was positioned on depart, however declined to remark additional.
Days after Herasimowicz was positioned on depart, the deputy finance director, Angela Gencarelli, resigned — simply as town is getting ready to place collectively its annual finances this spring.
In a letter obtained by the Valley Unbiased Sentinel by way of the Freedom of Info Act, Chief of Workers Walt Mayhew notified Herasimowicz on March 1 that she was being positioned on depart “pending an investigation of potential violations of metropolis coverage and procedures in your function as finance director.”
The letter doesn’t identify the insurance policies or procedures in query.
Hearst Connecticut Media’s personal FOIA request, submitted on March 16, has but to be answered.
Herasimowicz, a College of Connecticut alumna, was beforehand the finance director in Tolland, Killingly and Rocky Hill. She was awarded the Certificates of Recognition for Price range Presentation in 2016 by an expert group primarily based on her efficiency in managing Tolland’s finances.
Gencarelli, in the meantime, additionally began in her function only recently — earlier this yr, based on the Valley Unbiased Sentinel.
And Mayhew is also a brand new rent, changing former Chief of Workers Andrew Baklik in January.
Herasimowicz’s identify got here up briefly Thursday in a Board of Aldermen assembly when Sarah Widomski, an alderwoman representing the first Ward, mentioned she tried to talk to Herasimowicz after fellow alderman Charlie Sampson mentioned Herasimowicz was in favor of hiring a grant author for town throughout a earlier assembly.
However Widomski mentioned she was unable to.
“A pair days later, I attempted to have a dialog together with her however was unable to,” Widomski mentioned.
Different metropolis officers reached by Hearst Connecticut Media have declined to talk about the investigation or causes for the executive depart.