Tensions Flare At Somers Board of Finance Meeting

SOMERS, CT — The recent approval of bonuses for town employees totaling $32,000, as well as some raises approved by First Selectman Bud Knorr, drew a multitude of questions about the transparency of the process by at least one member of the Somers Board of Finance during Monday night's meeting, leading to a few testy exchanges between board members and town officials.

The issue was first raised at a July 16 Board of Selectmen meeting, when selectman Tim Potrikus questioned Knorr about approving the payments without authorization from the full board. Knorr admitted he made the decisions on his own, based on a performance appraisal system implemented in 2019.

The bonuses, awarded to 31 town employees, totaled $32,000, and were paid in late June, according to a memo from Knorr to the town payroll department. Knorr himself received $3,000, the largest single payout to any of the employees, as well as a 4 percent salary increase.

Board of Finance member Bill Meier brought up his concerns about transparency Monday, sparking a 15-minute discussion between the board, Knorr and chief financial officer Michael Marinaccio. Meier also questioned whether Knorr's actions constituted a conflict of interest.

"He voted on something that gave him personal gain," Meier said.

Marinaccio suggested Meier "file paperwork with the ethics commission" if he wished to pursue his complaint against the first selectman. Knorr told the board he had mailed a$3,000 check back to the town.

Later in the meeting, Meier read a letter he had drafted, addressed to the Board of Selectmen, stating, "We have serious concerns about the legality of the bonuses and salary increase for the First Selectman and the potential that they may violate state statutes, the town charter and town ethics rules. The Board of Finance is requesting an independent investigation and audit. This investigation should include a detailed accounting of any raises and bonuses awarded to town employees for fiscal year 2019/2020 and the prior years to at least FY 2016/17, along with the legal authority the Finance Department acted under to grant them."

Tensions rose during a 23-minute discussion of Meier's letter; at one point, board member Joe Tolisano accused Meier of being "on a witch hunt." At meeting's end, Meier withdrew his motion to send the letter to the selectmen, contingent on a special meeting being arranged in August where Knorr and Marinaccio could present detailed information about the situation in the presence of the town attorney. The motion passed; a date has not yet been determined for the special meeting.

The complete meeting may be viewed below. The initial discussion about the bonuses begins at the 32-minute mark; the second discussion begins around 1:06:30.

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