This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Needs to be Held Accountable

All the controversy over the Board of Education practices with running deficit and the town bailing them out appeared to be center stage at the budget presentation to the Town Council and proves someone needs to be held accountable. The person is Finance Director Paul Rizza.

Mr. Rizza oversees both the town and Board of Education finances, clearly a conflict of interest. Even though they are two separate and distinct entities, this move was to allow Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr., to have control of all finances. Maturo, who appointed Rizza back after he was fired from the Waterbury water bureau, has him in charge of the Republican-controlled board’s finance office.

At the meeting, Board of Education Chairman John Finkle seemed to have crossed swords with Rizza and publicly stated he had met with board auditors without him. This action leads one to believe the board has clearly lost all confidence in Rizza’s oversight by not inviting him to attend. It is obvious that Finkle and the Board of Education members need to relieve Rizza from his duties because of mishandling of their finances as the two jobs continue to conflict. Rizza is paid about $60,000 for his services overseeing the Board of Education and an additional $90,000-plus for his responsibilities in the Town Hall.

Dominic Milano

East Haven