City Councilman Richard Paoletto, the acting director of the city’s Housing and Commercial Code Enforcement Department, has been suspended with pay effective Monday until completion of a review by the city’s Labor Relations Department.
The suspension stems from a city employee who has filed a sexual harassment complaint. The allegation comes from an employee with whom Paoletto once had a relationship, according to several sources in City Hall. It has become practice for the city to suspend with pay with these types of allegations pending a thorough review. The city is undergoing a review process to determine if Paoletto violated city policy with respect to such allegations.
0
Again I question the labor relations office (fellow DTC members) investigating one of their own. How can they guarantee a fair and honest decision? I can’t help but remember a year or so ago when Joe Minopoli was let go and Rich moved right into his job? Sometimes that bad karma catches up to you.
The Sex (harassment), Money (paid leave), and Power (City policy, administrative process, the legal requirements) Bridgeport SHOW is on the road, once again, it seems.
This entry sounds more like a “She said … he said” and perhaps can be dealt with more simply by Dear Abby or Judge Judy???
How do we get into employee and supervisory situations, where they “once had a relationship?”
C. H. S. (How many OLD but COLD relationships are there at HQ?)
And while many believe the less government the better, the wrong way to slim government is to have a position that requires decisions and judgment, have to remove the person responsible, even temporarily, and yet have a City expense for which the taxpayers are receiving nothing at the end of the day, right?
You know, it strikes me at this moment that having an elected or appointed job with the City as well as a paying one is not very effective for those of us paying for the show. In the first place, we have a lot of jobless and the necessary work can be shared to even out responsibilities. No one needs to have more than one primary responsibility. Second, it would mean more citizens are in the pool as paid City workers giving their all to a good job that has great pay and benefits or as volunteer elected or appointed to Boards, Committees, or Councils. Third, it might help everyone understand what hat everyone is wearing: job hat, City governance hat, or even political hat, since they would only be wearing one!
You know, just wearing a Yankee or Red Sox cap all by itself causes fewer problems than we seem to be getting in this silly summer season. Brand confusion.
Just look at our Bridgeport scoreboard!!!
Hits? None!
Runs? From whom?
Errors? Too many?
W-L = Who Loses?
Here’s my question … Paoletto has an on-the-job violation of City policy and he gets a paid vacation while John M. Gomes, former head of CitiStat has an off-the-job alleged incident and he gets fired in the most illegal of ways and he gets smeared by the Mayor’s Office in addition. How come? What kind of double standard is this?
I’m sure the Mayor will say this has nothing to do with skin color or number of votes Paoletto represents to the Mayor.
The obvious inequity of treatment accorded Gomes is recognized.
I’ll bet the Mayor wouldn’t turn this investigation over to an objective 3rd party because he can’t accept facts … a woman is the victim, but the Mayor doesn’t have any room on his agenda for women.
Paoletto winds up the winner.
carolanne:
Everyone knows decisions don’t get made for the right reasons, but I can’t help but wonder if your allegiance to Gomes has any impact on your crying foul. I wish everyone who works for Bpt would keep it in their pants, it would make life a lot easier. Don’t think you need to bring sex or race into the equation though. Best way to avoid sexual harassment at work is to NOT HAVE SEX WITH YOUR SUPERIOR. Best way to avoid getting in trouble with the law is TO NOT BE AN ARROGANT JERK when the police question you. Not saying the Gomes firing was fair, just saying most actions result in a reaction … and sometimes these things suck. What also sucks: paying someone to not work after they made foolish decisions. Humans! We all make dumb f-in’ mistakes. Let’s make some good ones! Vote in the primary and in the upcoming election.