It was a month ago that Bruce Morris came under scrutiny for the apparent lack of time keeping by the BOE.
Two months after the school district’s human relations officer was sworn in as a state representative, the tax and school boards are evaluating his ability to juggle both jobs.
So that makes three months now, since he’s been elected. Does it really take this long to craft a policy that says, “we will only pay you for the hours you actually work?” Gee, I crafted that sentence, admittedly one of those generic ones that can be found in countless employee manuals that exist in the corporate world, in less than a minute. And it complies with all those regulations too!
The Board of Estimate and Taxation recently asked about Morris in a letter to School Superintendent Salvatore Corda. Corda is scheduled to appear at the BET’s 7:30 p.m. meeting Monday.
“The concern is if someone is up in Hartford serving (and) still drawing a full salary here, are they able to completely fulfill the responsibilities for their Norwalk position?” said BET Chairman Fred Wilms, a Republican.
Corda said yesterday said Morris’ two jobs have not caused any difficulties. But the BET’s letter prompted the school board to meet in closed session with Morris earlier this week. No action was taken.
“We’re evaluating the position,” said board Chairwoman Jody Bishop-Pullan, a Democrat. “And we have to abide by the law.”
State law prohibits employers of 25 workers or more from discriminating against, disciplining or firing a employee who is elected to the General Assembly. An employer may withhold wages for time lost.
So Jodi Bishop-Pullan, how do you know if there is time lost if you haven’t required Morris to account for his time in the first place? Is this really so hard to implement? It’s hard to see how Morris is putting all that much time in considering that CT-N is providing ample documentation that he’s in Hartford much of the time.
School board member Bruce Kimmel, a Democrat, said he supports Morris.
“I am 100 percent convinced that he has no trouble doing what he’s doing,” Kimmel said.
He said the legislature holds meetings in afternoons and at night in order to allow its members to hold full-time jobs. Kimmel said a legislator, especially one from Fairfield County, would otherwise have to be independently wealthy in order to hold the low-paying seat.
“This is not a problem. This is a good thing, Kimmel said. “We have someone immersed in education up at the Capitol.”
Too bad Morris isn’t immersed in education here in Norwalk. Or maybe that’s a good thing, since he likes to immerse himself in so many things outside of Norwalk. And maybe Kimmel is right, if Morris does nothing, then he would have no trouble doing that while preaching up in Hartford.
Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia, a Republican with a nonvoting seat on the school board, said he has received queries about whether Morris is fulfilling his duties.
“Bruce is a reputable man,” Moccia said. “Sal (Corda) told me the board was going to set policy on it. . . . The best thing is for the board to just come out and tell everybody what they’re doing.”
Ah well, transparency is such a difficult thing with these guys. We’re still waiting.
source: The Norwalk Advocate, Serving the schools and legislature, By Brian Lockhardt, March 10, 2007
