News

Trial Board Concludes: NCPD Sergeant To Repay Town, Undergo 90-Day Unpaid Suspension

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The New Canaan police sergeant whose job had been at stake after the town paid some $30,000 in health insurance premiums beyond what was required when he failed to remove his ex-wife from the municipal plan following their divorce will continue in the department following a 90-day unpaid suspension, officials said. Sgt. John Milligan also will repay the town $28,608, will be ineligible to seek promotion for five years and will be assigned to any position within the department, according to a press release issued Tuesday by Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. “We are pleased that we are able to conclude this matter in a fashion that is in the best interests of the department and the town,” Krolikowski said. “By way of his agreement to a variety of penalties, Sergeant Milligan has finally accepted responsibility for his actions.”

The statement comes hours after the final trial board hearing on the closely watched disciplinary matter.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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A building permit application has been filed for a new, 8,600-square-foot home planned for 386 Weed St.—part of a large-scale project for a combined 7-acre parcel that had drawn some criticism from neighbors and originally included a 15,000-square-foot manmade pond that since has been withdrawn from the plan. The new home will include 40 rooms and will cost about $2.4 million to build, according to a building permit application filed May 15. The contractor on the project is Westport-based Coastal Construction and architect is Christian Rae Studio LLC of Easton. ***

Animal Control officers fined a Weed Street woman $90 for allowing her dog to roam after they saw her let a golden retriever off leash at Irwin Park at about 12:19 p.m. on May 22. The officers were in an unmarked car and watched the woman waiting for them to leave, which they did and then looped around to the far side of the park where they assessed the ticket for allowing a dog to roam (which now includes an additional $46 fine).

News

‘Good Award for Both Sides’: Town, Police Union Reach Contract through Arbitration

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The town and police union have a contract for the first time in nearly two years, as an arbitration decision came down Monday, officials said, bookending a difficult process that had stirred bitter feelings between the two groups. First Selectman Rob Mallozzi said he is meeting with lawyers to trawl through details of the agreement, calling it “a good award for both sides.”

“It was a terrible process emotionally for a lot of people, and there was some added expense, but in the end, I think we protected what we wanted to protect,” Mallozzi said at the Board of Selectmen meeting, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department. Eric Brown, an attorney with the union, AFSCME Connecticut Council of Police Unions Council 15, could not immediately be reached for comment. Specifically, Mallozzi said, the police department “did not come near” receiving the wages they had asked for. “We got much larger increases into their pension plan—just like we have with the fire and other unions, so they now mirror them, that was something they [the union] didn’t want to do,” he said.

News

Town Officials: Police Sergeant’s Impending Lawsuit ‘Baseless’

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Citing violations of his civil and employment rights, a New Canaan Police sergeant plans to file a lawsuit against the town, department and chief, according to a March 2 letter from his lawyer. Sgt. John Milligan has seen “relentless harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress” and violations of his rights, according to a Notice of Intent To Sue from Bethel-based attorney Dennis McDonough. “Specifically, Sgt. Milligan has been subjected to foundationless allegations of wrongdoing and wrongful and egregious remarks being made, behind his back, by the Chief of Police and others of higher rank,” according to the letter, sent to the Town Clerk and offices of the police chief and first selectman.