Danbury Common Council Democratic Caucus January 6, 2009 Dear Mayor Boughton: We are writing to express our concems with, and current opposition to, your proposed appointment of State Senator Elect Michael McLachlan as the City’s part-time Economic Development Director (“Director”), We understand that you are preparing a comprehensive statement regarding the proposed appointments and division of duties and hope that our concerns will be addressed therein, Specifically, the proposed appointment contemplates a reduction of the posit fifteen hours per week. In these difficult economic times we question whether fifteen how is enough time for the Director to properly perform the job. We understand that the current Director, ‘Wayne Sheppard, who will be your new Administrative Assistant (“AA”) will continue to perform economic development work with some AA duties being transferred to another staff member of your staff, The combination of the Director being reduced to fifteen hours per week and the new AA continuing to perform certain economic development work raises questions as to whether @ fifteen hour per week Director is needed or, if needed, should it not be a full time position? Additionally, we understood that Mr. McLachlan would be leaving municipal service once swom in as State Senator and not moving to @ position which, as the AA, serves at the pleasure of the Mayor. To the extent that the City does hire a part-time Director, the rate of forty-one dollars an hour (amounting to $30,750.00 annually, assuming two weeks unpaid vacation) seems high for fifteen hours per week. Wo are also concerned with employment of @ Director who, as a State Senator, represents multiple municipalities that may be in direct competition with Danbury for the same businesses, grants or funding. This likely scenario would seem to put the Director in a position of either having to zealously fight for Danbury’s economic development to the detriment of the other towns he represents or try to balance the various towns’ competing interests which could compromise Danbury’s economic best interests. Such balancing is fine for a legislator with multiple towns in his district, but an economic Director must put his town of employment first Finally, as a State Senator there stretches of time when Legislative duties will not permit the Director to be at City Hall or otherwise affirmatively engaged in the duties of Director. This is so as Legislators may not use the apparatus of State Government for private gain, ic. perform another paying Job. Therefore, we wonder how those hours will make up and accounted for We understand this is a sensitive issue and thank you in advance for your attention to our concerns, Tilgad be ye ‘ThongyySa Fred Visconti Deitiocrat gislative Leader... deputy Democratic Leader a pov cal 2 ius Je) (WNin+ juane Perkins ‘efjamin Chianese —_/Paul Rotéilo Warren Levy\ Councitman-5" Ward Councilman 6* Ward Councilman 6*—Ward Councilman at Large