When John Gomes announced his candidacy for mayor Dec. 1, 2023, supporters jammed the Town Clark’s Office as he filed the paperwork to challenge Mayor Joe Ganim with whom he once had an alliance turned falling out.
Gomes supporter Maria Pires, a long-time city employee prone to vituperative outbursts, took time off from her part-time job in the assessor’s office to attend the midday announcement.
Pires brought attention to herself during Gomes’ public filing in the Town Clerk’s Office standing on a table–holding the door open for others, eyeing an overhead view of the candidate addressing supporters–shouting “change” with no concealment of her surroundings.
Later that day she received this from Domenic Costello, Senior Labor Relations Officer:
“This letter will serve as written notice that due to a reorganization/restructuring of the Tax Assessor’s Office, your employment with the City of Bridgeport is terminated effective immediately.”
Pires termed the timing of the letter curious and hired savvy labor attorney, former Mayor Tom Bucci, to represent her in a free speech and right to association complaint against the city, charging her termination from the city was political payback for her public support of Gomes.
At Monday night’s City Council meeting, the legislative body will refer to the Miscellaneous Matters Committee a proposed $35,000 settlement of the case, recommended by city legal counsel.
See full council agenda and package here
Oops! They did it again.
Oops! They did it again.
Oops! They did it again.
Oops! They did it again.
Oops! I did it again:)
Breathtaking speed working its way to taxpayer dollars, do you notice?
When do we ever know about reorganization or restructuring in City offices? When used as an excuse, in arrears for whatever has hit the fan? Other possibilities….
What did the employee due, in the course of employment, that put her on top of a list to be terminated?? Is it standing on a chair in a campaign photo cheering for an alternative candidate for office? What are her free speech rights? Or the former employee’s right to look for qualified representation as a civil right? Is the award merely a back pay award? The record does not indicate.
Where is the injustice or unfairness that produces this award with such speed? Where is a consequence, a learning experience, or a public lesson for the City official guilty of the miscarriage of justice? Time will tell.
Associate’s of Hamilton Burger , just take it out of the City Attorney’s Oops fund.