Democratic Chair To Demand Maturo Resign at Town Hall on Friday

EAST HAVEN, CT - In the wake of a sex harassment lawsuit filed against Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. being settled for $175,000, the town's Democratic Town Chairman is planning to hold a press conference on the Town Hall steps on Friday demanding Maturo’s resignation.

A sex harassment lawsuit filed by a former East Haven employee against Maturo settled - for $175,000 plus lifetime medical benefits for her and her husband - right before the start of the trial Wednesday.

Francine Carbone sued Maturo and the town of East Haven. The settlement payment is to be covered by the town.

Marc Conte, chairman of the Democratic Party, said Friday’s press conference will be to ask Maturo to both resign and to pay any legal bills the case caused himself instead of town taxpayers being asked to pay.

In a statement released after the settlement on Wednesday, Conte said: “Mayor Maturo needs to step down and the residents should not bear the burden of his indiscretions and serious mistakes as an administrator. Time and time again he has shown his inability to lead by example. Mayor Maturo you should pay for this settlement. Not the taxpayers."

Maturo could not be reached for a response to Conte's statement.

In 2015, former Town Hall secretary Carbone filed a lawsuit, claiming she faced a continual pattern of harassment from Maturo, including inappropriate remarks and obscene gestures, since her employment began in January 1997. During one incident in 2013, Carbone claims Maturo exposed himself in her office.

From Jan. 25, 1997, to Oct. 17, 2014, Carbone was employed by the town. In October of 2014 she was fired.
According to the lawsuit, Maturo continually made comments regarding Carbone's body.

The complaint also alleges that Maturo grabbed his crotch in front of Carbone and in front of a town official.
The incident that Carbone first made involved Maturo allegedly exposing himself to her while she bent down to file documents in a cabinet. Carbone alleges that Maturo's behavior made her working conditions "intolerable," causing "severe emotional distress.

Carbone also filed a Family Medical Leave Act lawsuit, alleging the Maturo administration retaliated against her for taking medical leave.

She lost that case.