The City of New Britain is demanding $241,559 in repayment from former Mayor Erin Stewart and says it "reserves the right to... seek recovery of any additional amounts."
City-commissioned reports by the Crumbie Law Group accuse Stewart of spending more than $200,000 of city funds for personal use, receiving a six-figure severance package she was mostly not entitled to, claiming a pension she was not entitled to and improperly accepting almost $32,000 from the city to pay for her grad school tuition.
In a letter dated June 4, Corporation Counsel William Rivera demands that she repay $107,703 of severance and $31,562 in tuition, plus $102,294 in city attorneys' fees and investigation costs.
The total is due by Sept. 1.
The city also informed Stewart that the pension she demanded has been revoked.
In conclusion, the letter states the city has not completed a full audit of city funds under her leadership (2013-25) and that the city reserves the right to seek repayment of additional amounts. That leaves an opening for the city to also demand repayment of the more than $207,000 spent by Stewart on a city credit card.
A spokesperson for Mayor Bobby Sanchez says, "Once a full accounting is performed the City will take every available avenue to recover funds including those made on the P-Card and secure restitution on behalf of New Britain taxpayers."
Sanchez added, "These notices send a clear message: accountability matters, no one is above the rules, and this administration will pursue every available avenue to protect taxpayers and recover public funds. Our focus remains on restoring trust in City Hall and ensuring that government works for the people of New Britain, not for the benefit of those who hold public office.”
