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05/12/2015 01:15 PMThe State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) has fined First Selectman Willie Fritz $1,510.15 for using town funds to influence a referendum outcome through an improperly vetted budget guide. The fine covers the printing costs of the “Citizen’s Guide Town of Clinton Budget 2014-2015” that was mailed out last year during budget season.
Fritz reported at the April 29 Board of Selectmen meeting that he had updated the guide, which had also been published in 2013-’14, with budget numbers from the 2014-’15 fiscal year along with updated meeting dates. As there was not a town finance director in place, he published the document without Board of Selectmen approval or involving the town clerk or finance director.
“I didn’t get approval from the Board of Selectmen to put it out, so now I have to pay the town back out of my pocket,” said Fritz. “They penalized me for keeping the public informed with actual facts.”
In addition to Fritz authorizing town funds to print the guide without involving the town clerk and selectmen, the SEEC also cited the inclusion of the following sentence that used town funds to advocate for a specific outcome at referendum: “As you review these proposed budgets and the available information, it should become clear that theses budgets represent responsible, responsive, and financially prudent spending plans.”
The meeting, which is available to view on Youtube, became tense as Fritz spoke to Kirk Carr, who made the complaint to the SEEC, telling Carr that it had become personal and adding, “The gloves are off.”
Carr responded, noting that he has also spent his personal money and time on this issue and others.
“The only way to get enforcement of these regulations is to bring it to the Elections Commission,” said Carr, who brought a copy of the regulations. “These regulations are made for a purpose. Advocating on behalf of a referendum is prohibited and should be prohibited.”
Several attendees at the meeting spoke against the fines and thanked Fritz for the time he devotes to the town.
Fritz said that the flyer is informative for taxpayers and will be published again after being reviewed by the appropriate departments and being approved by the Board of Selectmen.
“The only thing that came positive was that we now know how to do it properly,” said Fritz. “The document is now reviewed and up to snuff.”
The $1,510.15 fine is the amount that it cost the town to print the flyers. Fritz must write a check to the town for the fine by May 13.
“Now this job is costing me money, it’s costing my family money—it’s become personal,” said Fritz. “I’ll have to take this money out of my retirement or away from college textbooks, but I’ll write a check to the town and move on.”