Haddad Apologizes To Selectmen, Town & David Melpignano for Mishandling 4-Corners Video Purchase Process [with video]

Before Selectmen could again vote to pay videographer David Melpignano the sum of $3000 for an 'informational video' explaining the $3 Million proposal to bring municipal sewer to the Four Corners area, the Board had to first take a vote on the exemption of the financial interest of Melpignano as he is also Chairman of the Groton Cable Advisory Committee and has special municipal employee status.

TM Asks For Police Presence For "His Personal Safety"

A Groton Police Officer was present during the March 9th Board of Selectman meeting at the request of Town Manager Haddad who said he requested 'a police presence' because he was concerned about 'his personal safety.' He estimated the cost for the overage was less than $200.

The vote for the financial exemption was overlooked last Monday night (March 2) as the Board tried for close to an hour to understand exactly who knew what and when regarding the video, what was included in it, who authorized it and what the real cost was. Some Selectmen were unaware of the project and it never came to the Board for a vote of approval. The timeline of these events is still somewhat cloudy, especially with a Feb. 20 dated copy of an estimate from Melpignano for the project for $6500, yet many did not see it, and still believed that the cost was $3000.

Once the Board voted the exemption on Monday night, they also ultimately re-voted to pay the $3000 to Melpignano on a split vote with Selectmen Peter Cunningham, Stuart Schulman and Anna Eliot voting in favor, Chairman Degen voting no, and Selectman Jack Petropoulos abstaining.

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Josh Degen said the Board spent 45 minutes talking about the proposal and only toward the end did they finally learn that the initial discussion about the cost of $3000 was in reality $6500. He said that questions regarding scope of work were deferred and Selectman Anna Eliot acknowledged that she had nothing in writing for the video deliverables, and only later made arrangements to talk to the Groton Cable Access Committee about paying for part of the cost.

According to Degen, there was an estimate from Melpignano dated Feb. 20 that presented the $6500 figure. He pointed out that the new Center Fire Station video was done by the Cable Access Committee at a cost of $200. "I am aghast that a video could have been done by the Cable Access group for $200."

Degen reported that when Eliot went to the Cable Access Committee meeting on Saturday, March 7, "She walked away with nothing."

Eliot accused Degen of "sandbagging" her, adding that she apologized to the Cable Access Committee and admitted her 'naiveté' adding, "I should have gone to them first." She then went after Degen pointing out that he had been paid $9000 for work he had done years ago at Williams Barn. Degen shot back that he had done all the required paper work and that the situation was entirely different.

At that Cable Committee meeting, members authorized Cable Director Bob Coleman to complete the video work.

Petropoulos said he felt misled since he did not find out the real cost until the very end of last week's meeting. "We were not misled by David Melpignano. He had the best of intentions here. We were messed up with the procurement process and we need to do better."

Eliot stressed that she did not know that Melpignano gave Haddad the work estimate but stated that she did not see it until Saturday.

Degen expressed concern about how much had already been done on the video and if the $3000 number equaled 46 percent of the work. "We need to know how much was done," he said adding, "It is our job to oversee taxpayer's dollars." The intention of Selectmen was to make Melpignano whole for what he had completed on the project.

Cunningham pointed out to his colleagues that they needed to provide direction to the Town Manager on spending for things like town meeting and videos.

Degen asked what account the money to pay Melpignano was coming from and Haddad responded that he has $49K in an account for office supplies, postage, town meetings, etc. He noted that in the past there was a handout to voters for $3000, and a Fitch's Bridge Postcard for $800.

Haddad said, "I apologize to the Board, to Mr. Melpignano and to the town. I gave him the go ahead...I had an invoice for $3000 and I didn't know the full price as Anna said she was going to talk to the Cable Access Committee. It could have been handled better and I apologize to the town."

Following the Board vote, they agreed to send a letter of apology to Melpignano.