Norwalk political notes: Morris on track for jury trial, D Dems recommend candidates

NORWALK, Conn. – Some Norwalk political notes for you:

• BoE do-over denied
• District D Democrats choose their candidates
• Lesko to Planning Commission

Judge denies BoE’s do-over request

“The Court should reconsider certain elements of the Ruling,” Attorney Dennis Durao wrote on June 24.

On Wednesday, the court said no.

Durao was asking Judge Alex Hernandez to allow the Norwalk Board of Education, Norwalk Public Schools and the City of Norwalk to reargue their position in the lawsuit filed by former NPS Human Relations Officer Bruce Morris, alleging discrimination in the loss of his position. The court had provided no legal reasoning or rationale when it turned down the defendants move for summary judgement, a decision without a jury trial, on June 3, Duaro wrote, arguing that  had the court “at least considered certain arguments presented by defendants” regarding legal issues, the ruling would have been altered.

A hearing was scheduled for Monday but Hernandez denied the request and the hearing was cancelled.

Much of the brief June 3 hearing focused on emails sent by the-BoE Chairman Mike Lyons in 2015, in which Lyons referred to a possible “race war” if Morris were let go at that time and called Morris a “snake.”

“Race war? How am I supposed to interpret that?” Hernandez asked. “… Doesn’t that comment interject the question of racial discrimination into the decision-making process?”

“There are substantial material triable issues of fact which can only be addressed by a jury,” Hernandez said.

A trial is scheduled for late October.

D Democrats chose DePalma for BoE; Page and Tsiranides for Council in-district

District D Democrats met Monday and voted on a slate of candidates, whom they are recommending for endorsement by the Democratic Town Committee.

According to D Co-Chair Kay Anderson, the results were:

• Mayor – Harry Rilling
• City Treasurer – Joe Tamburri
• At-Large Common Councilpersons – Greg Burnett, Colin Hosten, Manny Langella, Nick Sacchinelli, Barbara Smyth.
• District D Common Council representatives – James Page, George Tsiranides
• District D Board of Education representative – Erica DePalma

The DTC will endorse its slate of candidates on July 22.

DePalma, if endorsed, will be attempting to unseat Republican incumbent BoE member Bryan Meek. She’s a lifelong Norwalk resident, Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing with Media Horizons and mother to two daughters.

Page and Tsiranides, an incumbent, appear set to run against Republicans Tom Keegan and Carl Dickens, who call themselves “The Common Sense Team.” Long-time incumbent District D Republican Doug Hempstead is not running for reelection.

Page has been on the Board of Estimate and Taxation for 3.5 years and is University of Bridgeport School of Business Undergraduate Program Director and Department Chair, according to his LinkedIn page. He holds a Doctorate in Education from Wilmington University and a Masters of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University. He’s also an executive Board member for the State’s Workforce Training Authority.

Latest in Mayoral appointments
Mayor Harry Rilling has one appointment for the Common Council to consider Tuesday: James Lesko to the Planning Commission.

Lesko is a funeral director with more than 30 years of “proven management skills for multi-location funeral service business,” according to his resume. He is owner/director of Hoyt Cognetta/Lesko Funeral Home.

Rilling also has two reappointments, Christine Bisceglia and Barbara McCabe to the Bike/Walk Commission.