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Politics & Government

Fiscal Committee Approves HR Funds for Outside Attorney

The Board of Representatives Fiscal Committee voted unanimously to appropriate $39,600 to pay for outside counsel hired by the city's HR department.

The Board of Representatives’ Fiscal Committee on Wednesday swiftly approved nearly $240,000 in additional appropriations from various city departments to fund accounts that are running dry. But members scrutinized a request from Human Resources Director Emmet Hibson.

Hibson appeared before city representatives Wednesday evening at the Stamford Government Center to ask for additional funding to pay for outside counsel and discussed changes for the department that has come under fire recently for its hiring practices. 

Hibson came before the board to request a $39,600 appropriation that would cover legal fees paid to a consultant, Christopher Dellaselva, to help Human Resources with union contract negotiations that include 11 labor contracts. Hibson and Dellaselva apparently have a known relationship that predates their recent work together on several union contracts.

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The city’s HR department has been under the microscope following a string of questionable events, including a recent demonstration outside the Government Center where Dellaselva photographed union members participating in a rally. 

“He did it for two reasons that had nothing to do with illegal or improper purposes,” Hibson said.

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City Rep. John Zelinsky, D-11, asked whether it was appropriate for Hibson to hire Dellaselva in light of recent ethical allegations. 

“When you hire a consultant…do you go out for bids?” Zelinsky asked.

Hibson told the committee a “policy decision” was made to hire outside counsel. “It is far more cost-effective to do it this way,” he said.

The board’s Fiscal Committee voted unanimously to appropriate $39,600 to fund Dellaselva’s position through the end of the fiscal year. Dellaselva was retained by the city in November 2010.

“This will cover him through the rest of this fiscal year,” Hibson said of Dellaselva. “I will have the issue resolved by the end of the fiscal year,” referring to ongoing negotiations with collective bargaining units.

The Fiscal Committee also approved a $50,000 appropriation to the Board of Ethics to engage outside counsel in ongoing investigations and $150,000 to fund outside consultants for ethics complaints, Harbor Point arbitration and expert witness services.

Earlier, several board members said they were in favor of an audit of the HR department to implement “best practices”and procedures.

The committee also heard from the heads of several local non-profit groups that seek assistance from the city to subsidize their programs. Directors from Curtain Call, the Stamford Symphony, the School Readiness Program and the Youth Service Bureau presented highlights from their budgets.

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