HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Connecticut's Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) has voted unanimously to make a Tier-4 designation recommendation for West Haven which would put the highest level of state government oversight on the city's finances.
The board's recommendation follows a recent audit that suggested the city misused 80% of over $1 million in federal COVID relief funding which was nearly $900,000.
MARB Chair, and State OPM (Office of Policy and Management) Secretary Jeff Beckham said this latest incident clearly showed "serious governance issues and serious lack of financial control and other weaknesses."
Governor Ned Lamont indicated that he is supportive of the vote.
"I think it's appropriate that MARB has taken the action they have which means the state and OPM and the outsiders will be there to be another set of eyes on everything going on in the budget office at West Haven," Lamont said.
Local officials, however, voiced a different opinion. West Haven Mayor Nancy Rossi said the city has taken steps to improve and to correct financial wrongs that were done before she took office.
"Everything was broken--and when I say everything was broken, it was everything was broken--and we did look at the financial end first. We worked very hard on that and I know that we have made major strides," Rossi said.
A state takeover, city treasurer Mike Last said, is not the way to go.
"Our balance sheet is certainly a lot stronger today than it was four years ago," he said.
A 30-day public comment period will take place following MARB's recommendation. Following that, the findings will be presented to Lamont who will make the final call.
The full meeting can be found on the West Haven YouTube page.
