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In West Haven, City Council member and Fire Commissioner Robert Bruno used his position as the city’s West Shore Fire District leader to authorize contracts and payments for his wife and son-owned company, documents show.
Financial data from Connecticut Glass show Bruno He personally signed two trade agreements and dozens of receipts submitted by the boy to the fire department.
The documents show that Bruno – along with two fire commissioners – paid more than $ 81,000 for the silver garage, which he and his family owned and served for ten years.
The money was paid to the company to repair and maintain the fire station’s plow truck, lifeboats, blue and white fire engines and backup generators at the two fire stations.
Invoices show that Bruno’s son covers $ 1,500 a month for firefighters and tens of thousands of additional belts, batteries, hydraulic hoses, brake pads, air filters, oil filters, water pumps, and door locks for fire trucks.
The records highlight how Bruno, who was recently identified in a state audit by the West Haven City Administration, questioned the cost – more than half of the 46 receipts submitted to the fire department in the past two years. This puts the family’s business in a place where it verifies the parts and services that the fire department will pay for.
Bruno, as chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, will have a significant impact on West Shore’s $ 11 million annual budget, and will help determine what contractors work with the West Haven district fire department.
Stephen Scarfillo, chief executive of West Shore Fire District, said Bruno’s garage was the subject of a public bidding process in July 2020 to protect the department’s fire engines and other equipment. The company said the contract was awarded because another business did not respond to a two-week advertisement in the West Haven Voice high-country newspaper.
Ethics experts say Bruneu’s participation in the contract and the payment to the family company represent a direct conflict of interest no matter how successful the bidding process is and how many companies bid.
“If you are signing receipts for issues related to your company or your immediate family, that is a clear conflict,” said Peter Lewandowski, director of the Connecticut State Office of Ethics.
Lewandowski and other employees in the State Bureau of Ethics do not play any role in enforcing code of conduct in municipalities or other local governments in Connecticut. However, Brunei said his actions violated any code of conduct set by the fire department.
According to state, local, and federal regulations, Levandovsky prohibits all individuals from using public office to take official action that benefits themselves or their families. So, also, do a lot of corporate ethics.
Lewandowski “This is truly moral 101.
Fire Chief Scafariello confirmed by email that the West Shore District Fire Code of Conduct existed, but he and the district fire attorney did not immediately submit that policy to City Mirror.
‘Business as normal’
A.D. Bruno, who was elected fire commissioner for the first time in 2017 and has been a member of the West Haven City Council since 2020, said City Mirror had not seen that code of conduct before meeting with the fire department this month. Know that it is not appropriate for him to sign family business checks.
“I didn’t see anything bad at the time, and now that it has come to our attention, it’s about the ethical situation, we’re definitely going to work a little differently to move things forward,” he said.
Bruneu and his family have worked on fire engines in the West Shore Fire District for years – long before serving as commissioner and serving as superintendent in the department.
The family companies have worked for West Haven, two other fire districts, and the city police department.
“That’s exactly what we did, and my family has worked for decades to be faithful to you. So when this happened and no one asked about the bid, I didn’t really know it would be a problem. For us, it was a business as usual.
Brunei said none of his actions were “handcuffed” and that he was “saddened” and “heartbroken” because no one questioned his motives or the loyalty of his family.
“There was nothing – no idea here – to work for any family member in any way,” he said. “I do a lot for the police department. I do a lot for the fire department. It was never about money. This is the main thing that worries us because we do nothing but pay.
“It was just control. There was nothing wrong with that, ”he added. “The only thing I’ve done so far is to worry about the West Shore Fire Department and keep West Shore residents safe.”
Other elected leaders representing West Haven say Bruno’s decision to sign payments to his family’s business has put the district in a bad light and could further erode public trust, which has already been tested in West Haven. Federal Criminal Investigation.
State Representative Dorinda Borer D-West said, “Although I understand that the contract has passed the proper bidding process, as an elected official, you should not participate in any negotiations or vote on contracts that benefit you or your family.” Haven said. “To avoid any question about the appropriateness of the process, commissioners should refrain from these actions.”
State Representative Charles Ferraro, R-West Haven, made a similar comment. And Brunei argues that he should decide what is most important to him: his family’s businesses or his chosen offices.
“If you’re in that area, you need to know when to get rid of yourself,” Ferraro, who represents most people who pay property taxes to the West Shore Fire District. “I don’t think people like to hear that people in contract decisions are giving those contracts to family members. I don’t think people want to hear that.
Ferraro added: “You know, in my opinion, you have to decide whether you want to be a businessman or a politician. “It’s one or the other, but you can’t be both.”
‘Accusation and Contempt’
This is not the first time that a business owned by West Haven has attracted the attention of the public.
Bruno, a two-time City Council member, has been in the spotlight in recent months.
That money, according to city records, was intended to deliver food during the outbreak, to rent equipment for the city, and to compensate for post-mortem events.
Earlier this year, however, Bruno’s company received a forensic audit from the state’s Office of Policy and Management, which ruled that the federal epidemic fund was ineligible.
Auditors argue that the receipts and other financial documents used to support those expenses did not provide sufficient details on what the company had done to change the money.
He also called on Bruno to take a closer look at his other business dealings with the West Haven government over the past two years.
The auditors recommended the city’s financial records. Three companies previously controlled by Bruno were paid at least $ 170,000 from the city’s bank account. Those payments should be reviewed to determine if they are “correct” use of taxpayers’ money, according to auditors.
In response to the audit, Bruno hired a lawyer to defend his business and reputation, and a letter from his lawyer was read aloud to West Haven voters at a heated city council meeting in April.
In the letter – sent to an audit agency hired by the state – the lawyer said all transactions between the city and Bruno companies are above the board. He argued that Brunei’s business history was “impossible” and that his behavior was “undamaged.”
The letter read: “Although Mr. Bruno has not been charged with any crime or misconduct, malicious conduct is dangerous and unjust.” “My client has been the subject of accusations and contempt for articles in newspapers and social media.”
Although the OPM and the State Municipal Accountability Board (MARB) are in the process of overseeing the city’s finances, nothing has been done since then to further explore Bruno’s business relationship with the city administration in West Haven.
A spokesman for the state agency said all decisions regarding further investigations into the city’s expenditures and finances must be approved by the MARB Board.
“All matters pertaining to the administration of the city and the fiscal administration will be investigated over time and governed by applicable law,” said OPM spokesman Chris Colby.
Ferraro, a Republican lawmaker from West Haven, believes more questions will be guaranteed, given the public distrust that is rocking the city.
“Daylight should shine on everything in West Haven,” Ferraro said. “I think everything should be on the table.”
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