Council Rankled Over Bauer's "Fearmongering" Remarks

On Monday, the Common Council passed two resolutions to purchase a new software suite ($683,050) for the public safety departments in Middletown, and an accompanying purchase of a five-year maintenance contract ($567,938).

In discussion of these purchases, Republican Councilman David Bauer admonished the Information Technology department for not providing the budgets for the public to examine before the vote.  He said he would not support the vote on that basis.  Democratic Council member Vinnie Loffredo agreed with Bauer that he would withhold support because the documents were not available.

These documents, while now public and available for examination, have not been available throughout the review and purchase process, protected from public view because they contained possible breeches of security.  Apparently, those worries about security are no longer an issue.

In commenting on the second of the two resolutions, Bauer accused some of his fellow Council members of raising the fear level to justify the purchase of the software suite, and accused Council members of being viewed by the public as the public-relations team for city employees.

This ignited a firestorm of retribution against Bauer.

"I'm not a mouthpiece for anyone," said Council member Gerry Daley, a frequent target of criticism by municipal employees.  "Much less city employees.  Representing the people is sometimes telling them what they don't want to hear."

"You should be proud of the work city employees did instead of sandbagging them," Ron Klattenburg added.

And Council member Bob Santangelo admitted that he felt he felt compelled to walk over to Bauer and scream in his face, but thought better of it, and instead lectured him on what he perceived to be fault in Bauer's logic.

"I find it hard to listen to you saying, 'Shame on you.  You did it wrong,'" Santangelo said, citing Bauer's own participation in the decision to buy new software.

"This system is overdue in this community," said minority Chairman Phil Pessina.  "And I will apologize for the remarks of my minority member."

Mayor Sebastian Giuliano acknowledged that the purchase of the system was due in large measure to the failure of a previous system, purchased just four years ago.  He said that he was sure it was not easy for new acting Police Chief Pat McMahon, IT director Bill Oliver and Fire Chief Gary Oulette  to admit that the old system was broken and had to be replaced.

"The process we used was one of the more involved the city has ever had in an asset purchase," Giuliano said.

While several of the Council members said that the confidential review process for buying the new purchase was staffed with competent members of the municipal staff, and outside consultants, that it's efficacy could not be guaranteed.

"We're spending two million dollars," Council member Tom Serra said.  "Hopefully it will work.  It seems like it's well-organized."