Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethics And Accountability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident alleges hiring improprieties and ethics failures; board enters executive session
Summary
A public commenter accused the district of suspending its hiring policy to favor a director of pupil services, alleged prior separation payments and state substantiated findings against staff, and said special‑education legal fees rose sharply; the board then moved into executive session excluding press and public.
A Southington resident used the public‑comment portion of the Board of Education meeting to raise allegations about past hiring decisions and labor and ethics concerns, and the board subsequently moved into executive session.
Jillian Carlson, who identified herself and her address, said the board suspended its hiring policy in March 2020 at the recommendation of then‑superintendent Tim Connellan and that action allowed the district to hire a director of pupil services without a broader vetting process. Carlson told the board the director had signed a separation agreement in Oxford that paid 'over $100,000' and required a letter of recommendation, and she alleged the director later arranged almost $200,000 in consulting work tied to a family member without notifying district leadership.
Carlson said that, since that hire, multiple staff members had come under state investigation with "substantiated findings of ethical violations and professional misconduct," and she said the district’s legal fees for special education had 'skyrocketed by more than 600%.' She said the district should use the pending director search to demand transparency and accountability and closed by saying, "Southington deserves leadership chosen through integrity, not backroom deals."
After public comment the chair announced the board would return to executive session, excluding the press and public, and invited Mr. Madanci, Mr. Pepe and the board’s consulting attorney to attend while others left the room. The chair said no additional motion was needed because a motion had already been made.
The claims made during public comment are allegations by the speaker; the transcript does not record an oral response or factual rebuttal from district officials in open session. The board moved into closed session immediately afterward.
