Politics & Government

Administration Committee Scrutinizes Ackley Agreement

Councilors examine agreement, ethics accusations

The terms of a formerly private retirement agreement between Chief Margaret Ackley of the and City Manager Denise Rose, as well the chief's , were the topics of discussion in a city committee Monday night.

The Administration Committee of the City Council met to “gain a better understanding of what the [April 6] agreement means to the city of New London,” according to chairman Adam Sprecace. Under the agreement, Ackley will retire on Jan. 2 and be paid for unused vacation and holiday time. She will agree to give up payment for approximately 2,000 hours of compensatory time in exchange for inclusion on the city’s health plan through the age of 65, which will have the city pick up half of the single premium rate. In addition, the agreement increases Ackley’s annual Municipal Employee Retirement Fund pension from $52,403 or $52,613 under an August or January retirement without an agreement, respectively, to $63,382 with the agreement. Ackley may also opt out of the agreement in a period after the election.

Personnel coordinator Bernadette Welch said the compensatory time for the public safety chiefs rolls over from year to year, although they are “encouraged to use as much of it as possible.” Rose said compensatory time is separate for overtime, as it is recorded as unpaid hours worked over a regular workweek. She said compensatory time is paid out if an employee retires or leaves, but that a maximum limit is set for certain groups or unaffiliated employees.

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Rose said Ackley is in good health and the city will not incur any costs unless she uses the benefits. She said the agreement also prevents Ackley from “retiring in place,” a practice in which administrators work part-time for several years to use up compensentory time.

“It’s my understanding we have done similar things for other employees in the past,” Rose said of the agreement.

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Councilor Michael Passero said he was concerned whether the funds for the retirement payout had been included in the municipal budget approved for the 2012 fiscal year.

“That was the point I think that you had to disclose to us that this agreement was under negotiation,” he said.

Rose said the finance director included the potential retirement within the section for the police department’s salaries and wages. She said the reason the negotiations were not disclosed so as not to “intrude on the electoral process” as the city transitions to a strong mayor form of government, to keep Ackley as chief through the election to aid in the transition, and to not disrupt an accreditation process.

“The most important thing, I think, was to provide stability for the department and for the whole city,” said Rose.

The committee also discussed Ackley’s accusations against Councilor Michael Buscetto III, who is also the mayoral candidate selected by the Democratic Town Committee. Ackley previously said her decision to retire was a result of Buscetto’s behavior, saying he had acted unethically and sought to undermine her authority in the department. Buscetto asked attorney Brian Estep if his name ever came up during the retirement negotiations.

“Not in any of the documents I received,” Estep replied.

Buscetto questioned why the initial police budget included an $18,000 salary increase for Ackley, which did not make it into the final budget, when it was presented during retirement negotiations. He suggested that Ackley’s decision to give up about $200,000 in compensatory time payout was a result of negotiating an increase in pension, and that he was concerned that MERF could have the city pay the difference in pension. Buscetto also said he was not connected with Ackley’s decision to retire.

“My name, Mike Buscetto, was not brought up as any reason for retirement,” he said. “This was brought up in August, not during the negotiations.”

Councilor Rob Pero, the Republican candidate for mayor, was skeptical that no issues with the City Council had come up during the discussions. Estep replied, “I’ve had yet to work with any department head who hasn’t had an issue with the council.”

Rose said Ackley was eligible for retirement after 25 years of service in the police department, including two and a half as chief. Mayor Martin Olsen and Councilor John Russell said they did not feel she had chosen to retire simply because she reached this limit.

“So you’re saying this was an issue over comp time? Are you kidding me?” Olsen asked Estep.

“This agreement’s a smokescreen and I’m sick of it,” said Russell.

During the following City Council meeting, some residents spoke in support of Ackley during the public comment. Former mayor Eunice Waller said she did not want her to retire.

“The city, the people in this community, love this chief. They don’t want her to leave,” said Waller.

“I think she’s the best police chief we’ve had in years,” said Dr. David Hayes. “I know the difference between right and wrong, and what’s happening here is wrong.”

Sprecace said the council is proceeding with organizing a private investigation into Ackley’s accusations against Buscetto, and that the Ethics Committee may also start their own investigation with a five-sevenths vote. He said the council also learned of Ackley’s intent to sue and a possible settlement agreement during an executive session, but that both Ackley and city law director Thomas Londregan wanted that information kept private.

“It is information which has to be treated very carefully,” said Sprecace. “Ultimately the information is going to come out.”

The committee unanimously voted to adjourn to a later date after Passero suggested that continued discussion would cut into the following City Council meeting.


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