Let’s Correct Some Supervisory Errors

To the Editor:

Carolee Mason will now undergo training to correct all her failures listed last week and suspension of pay for three weeks. She had to hire an attorney because we failed to follow the listed procedures. I don’t see any ramifications publicized for those failing to follow them. A wrongful termination lawsuit could have been one of them.

Carolee and the taxpayers faced her failures publicly and financially by footing an unnecessary expense for supervisory errors. Sounds like those are being glossed over by saying Carolee’s errors made it all necessary, when in fact, it could have been avoided had those in charge performed their duties properly to begin with. Errors like, not bothering to read a 12-year-old piece of paper to start. How about correcting supervisory errors like that or are we facing another costly “We shouldn’t have done that” occurrence?

Mr Rosenthal referred to those falsely accused. We were left wondering why the legitimate complaints were not validated by either a signature or appearance since they were part of the investigation and bringing to light errors that needed correction. And rightly so. I’d like to hear what the false accusations are exactly. Not the fact that statements weren’t signed or testified to. Did he mean we could be wrong to think relatives or friends don’t come to mind when a job opens up and perhaps that would be a reasonable assumption for some people? In a small town, isn’t there a lot of who-knows-who and an expectation of favoritism in many situations? I’ve never been in that position, so please correct me if I am wrong in my thinking and that it can’t, or doesn’t or hasn’t happened in Newtown. We’re above that kind of behavior, right? Anyone care to own up to it if true? Tell me my cynicism is misplaced. I would feel better knowing that I was wrong and people actually get jobs based on their abilities to perform them and not as a favor to friends or relatives instead.

How can Carolee be expected to stand up to people with more power or influence over her decisions about how she’d like to run the pound, aside from the regulations she must follow? She’s been held to the fire for her mistakes and with proper guidance, she will do the job she loves better, according to the law, not as others would like to see it done. I’d like to ask who posted and approved of the adoption fees listed on the animal control officer page since the state animal control officer testified that Carolee was charging more than allowed by state law. Didn’t that person know the law and also need permission to post that to the town’s website, and if so, I only see Carolee being held publicly accountable for charging incorrectly.

Let’s have some of that transparency in government we keep hearing about and some supervisory changes we can believe in!

Barbara Field

Serenity Lane, Sandy Hook                                                July 1, 2009