Town Council Hears Comments from Pietrandrea's Lawyer

The North Branford Town Council is caught in the brouhaha over the incident
involving Victor Pietrandrea, a local businessman, and Police Chief Matthew
Canelli.

At the Town Council meeting on May 3, Nicholas Mingione, Pietrandrea’s lawyer, addressed the Council, which had received a letter from Pietrandrea regarding his situation with the police chief and forwarded it to the Police Commission in March.

At Monday's special meeting, the Police Commission Pietrandrea’s letter and the accusations it made against Canelli. But Mingione charges the Police Commission’s action destroys his client’s credibility and he attacked the Police Commission for its investigation of the matter.

“The Police Commission wasn’t asked to investigate Victor Pietrandrea and makes no mention of how it investigated Chief Canelli,” said Mingione, who said the incident reeks of McCarthyism. “What message does this send the citizens of North Branford? If you see something wrong, keep your mouth shut or you’ll be the next one on public trial.”

Last December, an was sent to the Town Council asserting actions taken by Canelli were in violation of criminal laws and town regulations. Pietrandrea denied writing the letter and sent a letter to the Town Council charging he’d been harassed. The Council submitted the first letter to the State Attorney's office and Pietrandrea's letter to the Police Commission.

In response to the initial charges against Canelli, Town Attorney John Gesmonde asked the Police Commission to investigate and State Attorney Michael Dearington said there were findings of wrongdoing, but the statute of limitations prevented any action to be taken against Canelli.

Mingione was prevented from speaking at the Police Commission’s meeting Monday because it was closed to public comments. At last night’s Town Council meeting, Mayor Anthony Candelora initially claimed Mingione’s comments were unwelcome because the Council wouldn’t be asked to act on the matter. But after council member Alfred Rose appealed to the commission on Mingione’s behalf, he was allowed to speak. 

Mingione said he and Pietrandrea are discussing the possibility of pursuing a civil liberties action against the town.

The council covered Water Pollution Control Authority business at the outset of the meeting and approved a request to connect sanitary sewers at 1655 Middletown Ave. Connection fees and benefit assessment payments will be paid by the owner of the home over a 20-year period, but if the home is sold prior to that time, the full payment will have to be made. The council agreed to allow the owner’s family the full 20-year period if it maintains ownership of the home after the current owner dies.