Groton Housing Authority suspends executive director
Groton — The Groton Housing Authority has suspended Executive Director Robert Cappelletti and terminated a shared-services agreement with the Meriden Housing Authority that has been in place since 2016.
Groton Town Manager John Burt said Friday the Groton Housing Authority has also undertaken an investigation of its finances and is now working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
'The town and I have grave concerns about potential financial issues at the Housing Authority, but we're working hand in hand with the GHA board, and we'll work through the process,' Burt said.
The Groton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners hired CBIZ of New Haven to 'provide forensic investigative services to GHA,' according to minutes of a Jan. 17 special meeting of the Groton Housing Authority.
The termination of the contract with the Meriden Housing Authority was effective Tuesday, according to a letter from the Groton Housing Authority to the Meriden Housing Authority provided to The Day under a Freedom of Information Act request.
The Groton Housing Authority and the Meriden Housing Authority have had an agreement in which Cappelletti, the executive director of the Meriden Housing Authority, also serves as the executive director of the Groton Housing Authority and the Greater Groton Realty Corp., a subsidiary of the Groton Housing Authority.
CT Insider, which has been reporting on litigation involving the Meriden Housing Authority and Maynard Road Corp., an associated nonprofit that supports development but has been sued over alleged nonpayment of loan, first reported the news.
Jamie Lee, who served as property manager for Groton Housing Authority, was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 19. Burt said she subsequently quit.
Cappelletti and Lee could not be reached for comment Friday.
Robert Frink, the chairman of the Groton Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, declined to comment.
The new property manager for the Groton Housing Authority is Hartford-based Imagineers, LLC., while the GHA maintenance foreman and resident services coordinator will continue to be housing authority employees, according to minutes from a Feb. 5 GHA meeting. The Groton Housing Authority manages the 104-unit Pequot Village housing complex and the 70-unit Grasso Gardens housing complex.
Cornelius Ivers, chairman of the Meriden Housing Authority, said he is happy to have Cappelletti back full-time. He called Cappelletti 'one of the excellent executive directors in the state,' and said he has 'done a tremendous job for us up here.'
Ivers said Cappelletti was not suspended because of wrongdoing but because the agreement between the two housing authority was set to end. Ivers said nothing is going to be found from an audit and investigation.
k.drelich@theday.com
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