Several years ago, city Councilor Ellen Zoppo allegedly threatened the library's director.Zoppo told Library Director Francine Petosa in the winter of 2004 "something to the effect that she could be your best ally or your worst nightmare," according to an email sent by a union official to Petosa.
George Wallace, vice president of the Bristol Professionals and Supervisors Association, wrote in the Feb. 10, 2004 email that Petosa "felt that Councilwoman Zoppo was creating a threatening environment" for the library chief.
Zoppo said Thursday that "unfortunately, communication is not one of the library director's strong skills, so while there has been frustration with her handling of matters, I don't recall any situation which would have warranted her going to her union for protection."
Zoppo played a key role in overseeing the $12 million library expansion project that was finished last year, a project that obviously required her to work closely with Petosa.
Asked about what prompted the complaint in 2004, Petosa said Thursday, "I really don't want to get into it at this point."
She said that Zoppo "was asking something that I felt was inappropriate in her role as a councilwoman as far as library business was concerned."
"I felt very uncomfortable with the situation," Petosa said.
The 2004 flap led to discussions between the union, former Mayor Gerard Couture, city Councilor Art Ward, Zoppo and others after Wallace said he "went to see" the mayor to relay Petosa's concerns about Zoppo's treatment of her.
Ward, who is challenging Zoppo in Tuesday's Democratic mayoral primary, said he "vaguely" remembered being in Couture's office when Wallace came in. He said he stuck around for the conversation because he was deputy mayor at the time.
Ward said he thinks it's the job of elected officials to initiate policy and then let city workers do their jobs.
"The day-to-day operations should be left to the professionals that are charged with that responsibility," said Ward.
Petosa said the situation was resolved after the discussions and never arose again.
Asked if she's gotten along with Zoppo since, Petosa said, "Councilwoman Zoppo and I, I'm trying to be very delicate in my wording, we can at times agree to disagree."
She said that she's worked well with Zoppo on the library's building committee and that Zoppo has "been supportive" on some issues as the council's library liaison.
"I run the library," Petosa said. "I try not to get involved in the politics that goes on in this community."
"There have been many incidents over the last five years that have been a concern to me and others on the library board about the management of the library," Zoppo said.
" In my role as liaison, I have raised these issues and tried to get them resolved, whether they were on behalf of staff, library patrons or others," she said. "That is my role as the council liaison."
"All I expect from department heads is for them to do their jobs for the salaries they are paid, and for the most part, all of them do," Zoppo said.
According to Wallace's email, Couture told Zoppo "she had to work with" Petosa and communicate with her.
Couture agreed that Zoppo was "basically not to be involved with day-to-day operations" at the library, the email said.
"The mayor felt that as a result of his discussion, things should work out better in the library," Wallace wrote.
Both Wallace and Petosa confirmed that the email provided anonymously to the Press was real.
Ward said he had nothing to do with the release of the email. He said he thinks he had a copy of Wallace's email back at the time, but said he no longer has it.
"That's about six computers ago," said Ward, adding that every time he has to get a new computer, he loses documents.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
41 comments:
Although I'm curious where this came from since it was only addressed to Ms. Petosa and George Wallace, it doesn't take away from the fact that it happened. This is now 6 department heads that had issues with Ellen that could not get resolved without the assistance of the Mayor and the Union.
Despite Ellen's intelligence level, these department heads are also extremely intelligent and each of them have been successful in managing large staffs. So what is the problem that prevents Ellen from working well with these 6 people that obviously work well and accomplish tasks with everyone else?
There seems to be a pattern here........
Why can't Ellen seem to get things accomplished with the department heads without throwing in vail threats and name calling?
She's smart, but not very mature at all. She also doesn't seem to have any clue how to be even a simple manager of employees.
She should read the book "The 5 Minute Manager" It would teach her alot.
It's a shame that Francine needs to be delicate with her wording when it comes to referencing her working relationship with Ellen. Francine is a nice person and does a very good job at managing our City's libraries. She's always so helpful whenever my children or I need anything. She shouldn't be put in an uncomfortable position because one elected official can't seem to realize the gem we have in Francine.
How did the library board deal with this or did they stay out of it?
Ellen is very immature when it comes to dealing with people. These dept. head are intelligent people and if Ellen cannot work with them or anyone for that fact without resorting to threats, then how the heck can she be an effective Mayor. Ruling with fear?
Ellen has gotten worse over the years with her attitude because of power (or so she thinks she has it) and that is very scary. This incident happened in 2004, the dept heads in 2005. Just think of all the other incidents we have not heard about.
Wonder if she used threats against Minor, McCauley & Nicastro for them to go along with her "scripts" on meetings!?
I was not going to vote for Ellen, but this only confirms what I knew all along - SHE IS NOT THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD THIS CITY.
How about all the editorials in the observer this week - like they were not scripted for the authors?
Go ahead Ellen try and make yourself look like you are the best - we all know the REAL you.
Voters are not stupid as you have elluded to so many times.
You think stortz was a micro-manager? Then watch out for Zoppo!
Typical Zippo, bullying and harrasing people, and, failing that, getting other people to do it (or attempt to do it) for her. Been there dont that. You gotta be crazy to put any confidence in her brand of leadership.
She is the DICTATOR! Pretty scary.
This reflects the fact that Ellen Zoppo has never attained a full time job for the reason of being self-supportive. In other words she's never had a regular full-time job, just some na-na land job at some chamber of commerce.
She has always relied on or had others to provide for her, thus creating her lack of respect for those who rely on their jobs to make ends meet.
This shows it's not about a bunch of men, as earlier posts claimed when the "Fat Five" email was revealed. Ellen on the attack does not see gender, she sees the object in her way and plows right through. I know a couple of young working parents (in a situation not unlike the one Ellen and her huband have, juggling work and childcare) and she had a personal grudge against them. She did her best to get them in trouble on at the workplace, putting their entire family in financial jeopardy because they didn't do what she wanted. She's a piece of work.
This email is an amazing development. Watch out, Bristol, if she gets elected.
I feel sorry for Mrs. Petosa for having to revisit this again. I'm sure it's rather embarassing to have such a disturbing part of your employment thrown out into the public eye.
It had to have been pretty bad for her to get the union involved. She's a very layed back person and doesn't upset easily. She lets a lot roll off her back.
I wouldn't want a boss treating me like that, and Ellen isn't even her boss!
Ellen just sent more information that hasn't yet been incorporated into the story:
"There have been many incidents over the last five years that havebeen a concern to me and others on the library board about themanagement of the library. In my role as liaison, I have raised theseissues and tried to get them resolved, whether they were on behalf ofstaff, library patrons or others. That is my role as the councilliaison. Unfortunately, communication is not one of the librarydirector's strong skills, so while there has been frustration withher handling of matters, I don't recall any situation which wouldhave warranted her going to her union for protection. All I expectfrom department heads is for them to do their jobs for the salariesthey are paid, and for the most part, all of them do."
Ellen - someone needs to review with you your role as a liaison to a board.
1- IT IS NOT YOUR ROLE TO address personnel matters or displeasures that board members may have with an employee.
2 - YOUR ROLE IS TO communicate with the board what the City will do with the board to accomplish goals or find solutions to problems.
3 - If the board has an issue with the management of the library, IT IS NOT YOUR ROLE to address it by yourself.
4 - THREATS ARE THE REASON THAT THE UNION WAS INVOLVED. YOU DON'T TELL AN EMPLOYEE THAT YOU CAN BE THEIR BEST ALI OR WORST ENEMY. THAT IS EMPLOYMEE INTIMIDATION.
Francine Petosa is not weak with her communication skills. You are weak with your listening skills. You are also weak with your respect skills.
Francine does the job she gets her salary for and to imply that she doesn't or handles things wrong is just you being REDICULOUSLY SELF RIGHTOUS. You have NO IDEA what it takes to manage a library. You just know how to let your kids run loose in it like a loud outdoor playground.
Francine doesn't get paid enough to deal with your criticism and threats. No one does. If she retires on a H & H claim, we'll know why and then should re-name it Ellentensionitis.
All I expectfrom department heads is for them to do their jobs for the salariesthey are paid, and for the most part, all of them do.
For the most part Ellen? Who doesn't and when did you become an expert in the overseeing and managing of EVERY department?
You need to be knocked off your pedistal. You are DEFINATELY a person that does not know how to handle any kind of powerful position.
These 6 department head issues are just the surface. There are countless others. I was there when the Theresa Pac kicked Ellen out of the City Clerk's office for verbally mistreating the employees.
This is nothing new. If you don't drop what you are doing to serve her immediately or if you tell her NO you will forever be labelled a useless individual and employee.
How dare you criticize Mrs. Petosa communication skills in a public forum like this! You have the audacity to criticize the manner in which this person runs the library, however she has been doing it for how many years???
You have completely gone over the line criticizing her in public. It isn't her fault you have no management skills. It isn't her fault that you can't handle it when an employee knows better than you do how to do their job. It isn't her fault that someone dislikes you enough to send your skeletons to the Bristol Press. She didn't ask for this and certainly doesn't deserve you offending her while defending yourself.
Your statement today is the most disgraceful thing that you could have done. I hope she goes back to the union first thing in the morning and files a complaint for publicly criticizing her ability as the library director.
Isn't the library director Petosa related to one of Ward's biggest supporters?
Maybe that is another reason Ellen feels she has to attack Francine for doing her job!! Ellen you need to learn management & people skills. As for your communication, or lack thereof, you stink at it.
Its your "dialog" or the highway!
Steve, they can't possibly pay you enough to deal with these people!
What Ellen fails to realize is that Ms. Petosa does not take her direction from anyone other than the Mayor.
Francine has always been a slacker and if she was working in the real world she would have been fired years ago. The reason she hasn't: her brother is a high-ranking union official. Let's be honest, everybody: the real problem here is that Ellen has more "testosterone" if you get my drift than any man who has ever occupied the mayor's office. But she's a woman, so she's a you-know-what.
Sounds like Ms. Petosa sure knows how to play the Union game. Gee I wonder why, almost like she's related to a Union guy or something. That's what Union people do.
Sounds to me like Petosa is setting herself up to file a lawsuit against the city if they try to fire her for unsatisfactory performance or other problems (dig deep enough and you'll see). Same reason why the city doesn't have the guts to fire BDA Rosenthal, he and the union would likely sue.
Hold the fort on this. We have one email pulled out of what is obviously a series of events. We don’t know all the facts or the chain of events. I do know from my personal experience with a city department that I got no call back on a problem for over two weeks. I called Councilwoman Zoppo and I got a call back the next day from the department head and then she followed up untill the problem was solved. This is what we elect them to do for us and if a few egos get ruffled and the problem gets solved I don’t care.
Ellen is a very distrub person and more is about to come out on her character and its scary!!
This is not a person I want for Mayor. Ellen should resign as a council member because she causes more problems and creates drama.
Its an election year that is why Ellen showed up! I called her several times on issues and she informed me to call McCauley. When I called him, he said he would get with Ellen and call me back. That was 5 1/2 months ago!!
Ellen is to busy putting her nose where it does not belong - she is overstepping her boundries big time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
K.C.
So Francine can afford to be a slacker because her brother is a union official? That's rediculous and you obviously don't know Francine at all, but you listen to Ellen well!
Francine is one of the hardest working individuals that I have ever met. Not only does she maintain the daily managing of the library system, but she is always trying to find new ways to improve what they already have.
You should also note that the time that this happened was during the library construction which was a very difficult time for all of the library staff because the disruption was so massive.
Ellen has more "testosterone". Give me a break! Zoppo has been caught threatening more than one city employee, being deceitful, condescending, scripting public forums, going behind the backs of other city council members...etc.,etc.,etc...and you think "just because she's a woman she's considered a you-know-what". If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...it's a duck.
this is a typical example of all the BS that goes along with small town government.
the union...the union...the union...
that's all i keep reading. unions were once important in protecting workers' rights, but they are the main cause of america's industrial downward spiral. just look at the auto industry.
good for ellen for having the guts to stand up to any "intimidation" by the unions, and trying to weed out non-performing employees.
these are the same people who are worried sick that ellen will be elected mayor, because they know she will weed out their sorry buts.
mr. wards union connection is just a little too disturbing for me.
-billy from bristol
There was a letter in the editor this week from a guy that had the same problem with Ellen. He emailed her for a public works problem and she sent him to his council members.
She doesn't have time for anyone unless they can further her political career or write her a fat check for her campaign.
Billy from Bristol - you work for the city, you are in a union and suck off us taxpayers everyday. Get off your soapbox on Ellen her character is going to bring her down, and fast.
Francine does have a communication problem. She holds everything close to the vest and she protects her area as though its Fort Knox.
However Ellen cannot continue micro manage department heads. She has to stop before we have a severe lawsuit with labor issues.
We already had a few sue the city because of Ellen. Just like the firefighter that got past over on the list, Ellen created that one.
"There was a letter in the editor this week from a guy that had the same problem with Ellen. He emailed her for a public works problem and she sent him to his council members."
Wow, the nerve of Ellen, telling a constituent to call the other councilman in that district (who has just as much responsibility and gets paid just as much)! Doesn't she realize that she is supposed to drop everything she is working on and take care of everybody's problems all by herself?!
You obviously didn't read the letter. He contacted her because she was on Public Works. She didn't want to have anything to do with the problem and it was a big and expensive one. She shouldn't have passed the buck.
Ellen is the chair of the PW budget and she screwed that up too - I heard over $300,000 in the red. If I am wrong I will admit it - but the figures speak for themselves. She gets a 21% increase in PW and Ward managed on 4%, with Frank Nicastro killing the budget for Ward and Zoppo still can't get it right with a 21% increase? Steve have you heard about this $300,000 loss i PW budget? Gee maybe Ellen shouldn't be to eager to debate Ward - seems her track record stinks!
Hey wait, Ellen came out and said Ward didn't do nothing on PW. SO now is she going to say it was Wards fault for her overspending on PW?
Ellen is to far over her head. Grow up Ellen then come back 10 years from now!
"You obviously didn't read the letter. He contacted her because she was on Public Works. She didn't want to have anything to do with the problem and it was a big and expensive one. She shouldn't have passed the buck."
And you obviously don't know much about the City Council, because Kevin McCauley, the councilman she referred it too, is also on Public Works. Like I said, you people expect her to do everything. Grow up.
We don't expect Ellen to do everything, as she claims she does, but we do expect her to be honest, less judgement of people, and compassionate at times. This is not Ellen her people skills suck. You can learn how to be nice to people by reading a book - it comes naturally. Ellen only thinks of Ellen and how she can further HER career in politics. It doesn't matter how many people or who she steps on, on the way up.
And you obviously don't know much about the City Council, because Kevin McCauley, the councilman she referred it too, is also on Public Works. Like I said, you people expect her to do everything. Grow up.
She didn't refer it to Kevin. She didn't refer it to anyone. She said that Mike and Art would handle it because it's their district. Kevin and Ellen didn't care about the problem because it would mean they would have to admit that they don't keep track of PW spending and mistakes.
Ellen Zoppo is a caring, intelligent, educated woman with stron leadership skills.She understands all the issues in Bristol to move this city forward in a positive direction. She has been the driving force behind inproving the schools( our kids now have the books they need), parks and the library. As far as these administrators upset with Ellen,there as been a good old boy gravy train atcity hall for too many years.There are too many administrators not doing their jobs. People have gotten away with not working for our full benenfit, while reaping the rewards of the best of the best medical benefits( which most taxpayers do not have), top salaries and good pensions. She expects accoutability for these things.Yes our taxes have risen but look around at the beautiful library, parks and improved test scores in the schools. Your taxes have risen due to the salaires, medical benefits, and improved city pensions. How many of these city hall employees pay nothing for their medical?This city is headed towards the problems of New Britain and Hartford unless we elect strong leadership. Ellen is the future if we want to have one.
To the previous poster,
Could you just once tell the Blogers the truth? Many of us know that the city pension fund is way overfunded. That is why Ellens union hack has tried but failed during negotiations to eliminate the F.F. contribution to the fund.The managers of the fund have done a wonderful job over the years to see that the fund is sheperded to the point that other communities have contacted our fund managers for help.We in Bristol should be very proud that our Finance Board along with our retirement panel have done such a good job.We, unlike New Britian and Hartford, have not raided our funds to pay for every day expenses. That is why their funds got in trouble. Politicians got to get their hands on it.Our finance people will not let that happen. It`s been tried and failed. Once again, our funds are fine.
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