Griswold selectmen end ‘tragic chapter,’ OK paying Charron: Deal with former secretary to cost town ‘no more than’ $450,000 [The Day, New London, Conn.]

Dec. 22--GRISWOLD -- In less than five minutes Monday morning, the Board of Selectmen ended a three-year "tragic chapter" of the town's history, approving a settlement with former selectmen secretary Andrea Charron, who had won a $1.3 million wrongful firing judgment in New London Superior Court.

First Selectman Philip Anthony, Jr. and Selectman Steve Mikutel voted to approve the settlement Monday. Selectwoman Theresa Madonna could not attend the special meeting.

The settlement terms are to remain confidential, but the town of Griswold will pay "no more than" $450,000, and the town's insurance company, Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, agreed to pay "at least half." The settlement calls for the insurance company to pay its share by Dec. 31, and for Griswold to pay Charron by March 31.

"This ends a tragic chapter in the town," Anthony said after the meeting.

Mikutel said he made the motion to approve the settlement reluctantly. But he agreed that the town needed to move forward.

Selectmen received that message last week when residents packed a meeting room to hear details of the settlement. Speakers unanimously urged the selectmen to approve the deal, worked out a week earlier during a 12-hour mediation session.

"The amount that the town is spending to settle this matter is money ill spent and wrongfully spent," Mikutel said. "But I am going to vote for this matter, because the town of Griswold wants to move on."

Charron's attorney, Jacques Parenteau, met with Charron later Monday and said she was "obviously relieved at being able to put the matter behind her." He said she looks forward to returning to the community and living "for a long time in peace as a citizen of the town of Griswold."

Charron had sued the town in 2006 after the Board of Selectmen voted to fire her following a turbulent few months under then First Selectwoman Anne Hatfield. Charron claimed that Hatfield harassed her and retaliated against her for criticizing the way Hatfield handled the aftermath of a January fire that destroyed the former town hall. Insurance had lapsed on the building, and controversy swirled over how Hatfield's predecessor and Charron's friend Paul Brycki handled the insurance matter prior to the fire.

Charron won a jury award of $836,871, and Judge Susan Peck added interest, attorney fees and $14,723 in punitive damages against the town for a total judgment of $1.3 million.

During the brief discussion, Mikutel said the dispute should have ended when Charron settled her separate personal suit against Hatfield prior to the jury trial in her case against the town.

"The second suit was uncalled for, because the people of Griswold did Ms. Charron no harm," Mikutel said.

After the meeting, Anthony said town officials would consider various options for paying the town's share of the settlement, including short-term or long-term bonding or using money in the capital budget. The board will not discuss the settlement at its regular meeting today.

"I personally will choose the option with the least negative impact on our taxpayers," Anthony said. "We're not going to rush into it. Every option needs to be explored."

Anthony said once the payments are made, the appeals by both parties would be withdrawn from the court.

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