Selectmen Ask, ‘What’s The Plan?’—

The Animal Control Officer Still Awaits Her Return To The Pound

By Kendra Bobowick

Monday afternoon Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason sat alone in a meeting room at Town Hall South with a laptop, folders, and some paperwork — still in training following a personnel hearing that concluded nearly two months ago.

“This is news to me, I thought she was back to work at the pound; this is surprising,” said Selectman Paul Mangiafico. Also “very surprised,” Selectman Herb Rosenthal said this week, “I assumed she was back. Two months seems like a long time.”

This week Police Chief Kehoe explained, “We’re trying to stick to a reasonable timeline.”

First Selectman Joe Borst fired Ms Mason effective April 1 on the advice from Chief Kehoe and Human Resources Director Carole Ross. She fought the action and more than 11 hours of a personnel hearing and testimony ensued, spanning several weeks beginning on May 20, continuing on May 28, June 4, and at last saw a decision June 17, when Mr Borst’s order to fire her was reversed and Ms Mason was told she could go back to work.

The chief admitted that the situation is unique. What is going to happen? “We’ll sit with the first selectman next week and review progress,” he said Wednesday.

Selectmen Mangiafico and Rosenthal chose to return Ms Mason to work as of June 22 on several conditions. They specified job training, for one. Although the two men indicated that Ms Mason “needed training,” Mr Rosenthal added, “We didn’t specify” how long. Several days after her reinstatement, Mr Borst offered an answer: “Until such time as her instructor is satisfied she is doing her job properly.” At that time in late June she was working with Sergeant Chris Vanghele.

“I would think that the chief and [Mr Borst] would work together and decide when she goes back to work,” Mr Rosenthal said Tuesday. “[Mr Borst] is her overall supervisor, and I would hope they have had a discussion …” He believes that “it’s reasonable to ask, ‘What’s the plan?’” Mr Rosenthal will “bring this up” at a Board of Selectmen’s meeting later this month.

How long will Ms Mason remain in training? “It’s ongoing,” Mr Borst said. Does he have a timeline? Mr Borst referred instead to the selectmen’s decision: “We have a judgment from the selectmen and have to follow that.” He wants to be thorough.

How will he gauge of she is ready to return to the pound? “We will leave the decision to the powers that be if the essence of the directive from the selectmen is met … of course there will come a time when we make a report up the chain of command,” Chief Kehoe said.

Is Mr Borst worried that Ms Mason is not yet back at the pound? “No. I think things are going all right.” As the town’s top administrator, will he coordinate a timeframe with the police chief? “I am depending on [Chief Kehoe’s] expertise about when [Ms Mason] goes back,” Mr Borst said Tuesday morning.

Minutes later Chief Kehoe explained that Ms Mason’s job training involved “developing operational policies” regarding her work at the pound. Her supervisor is now Sergeant Dom Costello. Does the chief have a timeline in mind? He explained that unlike the training course for field officers, “This is different. We’re adapting” for the animal control position, he said. Her job description “encompasses a lot of things.” He said that he does not have a timeline, explaining again, “With officers, we know of a certain amount of field training before they’re independent,” but this does not include the animal control officer.

Matthew Schaub is now at the pound full-time, with several part-time support staff, confirmed Ms Ross. However Ms Mason is also drawing her salary, noted both selectmen. Mr Rosenthal mentioned the additional salary. “At some point there won’t be enough, eventually they will run out of [budget] money,” he said.

In an early August selectmen’s meeting a discussion arose regarding costs associated with the hearing. Estimates indicate, according to the meeting minutes, that the Carolee Mason case cost $29,000. Mr Borst indicated that not all final bills had been received as of August 3. Emergency dispatch employee termination costs are estimated at $10,000. Mr Borst noted that this bill was final.

Ms Mason’s hearing raised a number of concerns regarding her job performance and practices. Handling raccoons and wildlife was under scrutiny. Questioned were the location and acquisition of a rabies vaccination certificate, veterinary bills, and adoptions procedures. Did Ms Mason ask a kennel assistant to falsify records? Was Mr Kehoe’s witness’s statement signed? Did a complainant have an official position in Newtown? When did certain kennel personnel fail to have their rabies shots? Were proper costs associated with each adoption?

Mr Mangiafico and Mr Rosenthal weighed these questions and points of argument before deciding July 17 to return Ms Mason to work.