The Rossi administration had a mixed bag of a week, last week, with some good news, and some bad news – at least we think it is bad news.
The Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) gave its imprimatur to the release of $8 million in funding that was withheld from the city, pending its restructuring of spending, and the implementation of an acceptable five-year plan for financing city operations.
Readers will remember this money was lost in the budget battles of 2017, leaving then-Mayor Edward M. O’Brien’s budget with an $8 million gap. The state had promised $12 million in funding prior to the budget standoff that lasted well into the summer that year, but the money was eliminated from our budget and other municipal budgets. West Haven, however, was dependent on those funds.
When the city opted to bond to eliminate the 12-year-old operational deficit, the imposition of scrutiny under the MARB, and forced the city to jump through fiscal hoops in order to regain the funds promised. The funding was tentatively approved by MARB, which means the city will be able to fill the remainder of the gap that was not bridged by massive cuts over the last year. Meanwhile, the five-year plan offers nothing but new tax hikes over its life in order to increase revenues.
Still, Mayor Nancy N. Rossi will not receive the money until a review of the city’s fire services is complete and the audit for the last fiscal year (2018) is completed. A deadline has been set for April 30. By that time it is expected all reports will be presented.
We note with interest the MARB’s look into consolidation of the city’s fire services, but wonder why it would be part of any review. In order for the city’s two remaining independent services (Center, known as the First Taxation District, and the West Shore Fire Dept.) to consolidate, they would – like Allingtown did in 2012 – have to have voters in both districts elect to end the Home Rule statutes that govern them. We don’t see that happening anytime soon. And, that would be only the first step in dissolution of the districts. Frankly, the independent fire services are out of the MARB’s purview.
The bad news came with the sudden departure of Ron Cicatelli as the city’s Finance Director. In a one-line letter, Cicatelli resigned from his position Friday and was escorted out of City Hall with his belongings. It is known that he and the mayor’s office had some diverging opinions, but no one expected him to leave.
Cicatelli, who took the job in September, was replaced by Frank Cieplinski on Monday. Cieplinski was supposedly in line for the assistant job, but was able to move into the top position.
It remains to be seen – and we expect the reasons will come forward – why Cicatelli determined to leave. His was considered a fresh face in the city’s financial line-up, with a different perspective on how the city should maneuver through its fiscal morass. While there was tension on the third floor of City Hall over diverging opinions, just last week it was reported Cicatelli and his family would be permanently moving into the area.
Cieplinski is from Fairfield, and will bring, we hope, the same fresh perspective that was exhibited by his predecessor. In the next few weeks the budget process begins for fiscal year 2020, and we need a finance director that is fully up to speed on city operations.
Unfortunately, it seems the New Year of 2019 offers the same focus of attention 2018 did. The city’s ongoing financial crunch is going to remain front and center for some time to come.