Aldermen Believed HUD Funded Position
By Robin Vinci at December 13, 2023 | 8:15 pm | Print
Four Aldermen admitted Wednesday night that they were led to believe that the community organizer position was paid by federal HUD funds until recently.
In an Oct. 4 speech Alderman David DeFronzo had stated that HUD funds were paying for the position. On Wednesday night, DeFronzo said the position is not paid by HUD funds and he agreed with comments made during public audience by resident Sally Eigenraam.
Eigenraam said when the mayor (Tim O’Brien) took office he said the City was in a hiring freeze and then hired two positions including communications director and community organizer.
She said DeFronzo defended the position, but the New Britain City Journal revealed it indeed was being paid through the general fund.
“We’re a little upset and dismayed that we were lied to,” said Eigenraam. “We think that answers need to be made. We are not blaming anyone on the council. I understand a number of councilmen too were led to believe she was being paid by HUD.”
Eigenraam wanted to know how the City is liable after it has been revealed that there was a misuse or misrepresentation of funds.
“Most residents believed the hiring freeze at that time,” said Eigenraam. “We expect those questions to be fully answered in the upcoming weeks.”
“On Oct. 4, I was under the impression that the community organizer position was being funded by CDBG money and that obviously is not the case with the information I have been given at the time,” said DeFronzo. “I think it is important what Ms. Eigenraam said, but this is not a reflection on (Briggette) Brown. She is a wonderful person and eminently qualified to do the position she is being asked to do. This is an issue of funding and process. At no point prior to that meeting was I or I don’t want to speak for other people, but at least some of the other members of the council notified of possible fund sources that were changed with regard to that position or implications on the City budget.
During the time DeFronzo spoke at the meeting on Oct. 4, O’Brien stood in the background, as seen on a youtube video and did not correct DeFronso.
Alderman Jamie Giantonio stated he would not apologize for stating in The Herald that there were some misleading statements in the hiring of the position.
“I think if anything, the mayor and Mr. (Phil) Sherwood should apologize to the Council and the citizens of New Britain for misleading them in that information,” said Giantonio.
During a passionate speech Alderman Rha-Sheen Brown, said he did not know his wife was not being paid by HUD.
“To everybody in this room, you (pointing at his wife) are doing an excellent job,” said Brown. “I would walk away from all of this for you.”
He said he understood people are upset but that they should direct their anger to where it needs to go.
“I didn’t know anything about a grant not funded,” said Brown.
Alderman Willie Pabon also said he was not informed that the grant was not HUD funded.
When Alderman Emmanuel Sanchez was asked if he knew if the position was funded by HUD, he said “No comment. Shame on you.”
Prior to the start of the meeting, O’Brien asked the council to work together.
“In the end we are one community and we should stand together to be able to accomplish the things we need to be able to do to improve the lives of the people of our City,” said O’Brien. “Let’s start treating each other as decent human beings.”
