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Commission member says AG found in-person meetings were reasonable; commission urges sharing letter with personnel board
Summary
A commission member described a grievance about being denied in-person participation on a personnel-board matter and said the town/AG determined her request for an in-person meeting was reasonable; commissioners discussed that personnel-board meetings should be held in person and the need to share the AG communication with board members.
A member of the Westport Commission on Disability said May 18 that an Attorney General office communication and town administrator action found her request to participate in person on a personnel‑board meeting to be a reasonable accommodation.
The member (identified in the meeting as Lisa when the agenda item was introduced) said she filed a grievance after being unable to attend in person and that she subsequently received a letter indicating the request was reasonable; she said other grievances stemming from the same events remain under review. “The in‑person meeting was granted and recommended by the AG’s office,” she told the commission.
Commissioners discussed that if the AG’s communication is authoritative, the personnel board should meet in person going forward and that the member should share the AG letter with the personnel board so they can take steps to make meetings accessible. Chair Brian Gallagher encouraged the member to provide the letter to other board members and the town administrator to ensure procedural steps are followed before the next meeting.
Commission members said that while in‑person meetings may be necessary in this case, there are additional grievances about notice and participation that need to be resolved through the town’s grievance processes. The commission asked the member to make the AG letter available so the personnel board can make arrangements for an in‑person meeting and compliance with the AG’s directions.
