NAACP Calls For Investigation Of Mayor In Mayo Firing

The local and state branches of the NAACP said Monday that they would like an investigation into Mayor Daryl Finizio’s office .

Members of the NAACP’s New London Branch and the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches appealed to the City Council at its regular meeting. They said they felt that Mayo had been unjustly fired and that the reasons given for his termination have since been disproven.

Mayo was hired as a recruit for the and attended the Connecticut Fire Academy, but was fired two days before the conclusion of his training. A report from Fire Chief Ron Samul to Finizio said the reasons for the decision included disciplinary issues, including writing the academy class’s name in cement, making an obscene gesture while marching in formation, disrespectful behavior toward classmates and instructors, and failing to inform the department or academy of an arrest by the Connecticut State Police on a motor vehicle infraction during the training.

Finizio, who upheld Samul’s recommendation, formerly said he did so based on Mayo’s “low test scores and other problems in his personnel file.” He also said that he consulted with Chief Administrative Officer Jane Glover and City Council President Pro Tempore Wade Hyslop before making the decision.

NAACP members and others accused the city of being dishonest in its assessment. Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut State Conference of NAACP Branches, said the city’s concerns over Mayo’s grades, driving record, and other matters were unsubstantiated. He said in meeting with Finizio, Glover, and Hyslop he felt their only reservation was that Mayo was “goofy.” Esdaile said he wanted to see an independent investigation of Finizio’s administration to look into the matter.

“We have a man who’s lost his livelihood…And the only thing they can say is, ‘He’s goofy?’” said Esdaile.  “That is absurd.”

Don Wilson, president of the New London Branch of the NAACP, said Mayo passed the academy’s tests and that the administration fired him based on reasons that were “clearly wrong just to serve their own opinionated agenda.”

Tamara Lanier, the state NAACP organization’s criminal justice chair, said Mayo has been “cruelly maligned” by the city. She said another recruit took responsibility for the cement incident and that a photo of Mayo making an obscene gesture was taken when he was off duty, and that he was the only person punished for this action.

Greg Tinney, first assistant director of the International Association of Black Firefighters, said New London has a poor hiring and retention rate for minorities and women. Mayo would have been the first African-American firefighter in the department since 1976. Tinney said such practices could leave the city open to costly lawsuits.

“Hopefully some changes are made, and this man is able to work as a city of New London firefighter,” he said.

Mayo said Finizio got in touch with him and said he had decided to hire Mayo since he met the city’s standards but later rescinded the offer. He said Finizio and the administration have perpetuated “lies” about him and asked the council to serve as a check on the mayor’s office.

“I may be goofy, sir, but I work my hardest and I did my best in the academy,” he said.

Hyslop response

Prior to the council response, resident Bill Cornish thanked Hyslop and Glover for their work in the matter. Cornish said he felt both have been unfairly criticized by residents.

“However this turns out, I stand with you and Jane for serving this city well,” he said.

Hyslop thanked Cornish and others who expressed their support. He also asked Mayo, “Did I say to you that you were goofy?”

“No, you did not,” Mayo replied.

Hyslop said he made his decision based on what he felt were the best principles and on what was best for the city.

“I will not be intimidated,” he said. “I’ve said that again and again.”

Councilor John Maynard also thanked Hyslop, saying he thought he made the best decision based on the information he had.

“I have a lot of faith in Reverend Hyslop,” said Maynard. “I grew up across the street from him. I know what kind of man he is.”

Council response

Council President Michael Passero said that under the City Charter, the council can’t dictate any appointments or employment decisions made by the mayor’s office. He said this was not a revision made as part of the transition to an elected mayor government, but formerly applied to the council's relationship to the city manager as well.

“The powers that we have legally are very limited,” he said.

Councilor Marie Friess-McSparran said she was opposed to discrimination in city employment, but that the City Council has not been apprised of the situation.

“It’s very difficult for anyone to speculate on the matter without the specifics,” she said.

Councilor Adam Sprecace said the council cannot interfere with the mayor’s duties but can pass policies that would emphasize hiring minorities. He said the council should also hear from Finizio on the issue and get more information related to the controversy.

“This is obviously an issue that is not going away, and one that I think should be addressed once and for all,” he said.

Esdaile was not satisfied with this response, asking if Glover and Hyslop violated the City Charter barring interference with mayoral decisions by concurring with the recommendation that Mayo be fired.

“If they did make a recommendation, than the council should be able to make another recommendation,” said Esdaile.

A request for comment from Finizio was not returned on Monday evening.

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