Dismissed Ethics Complaint Will Cost Trumbull Schools Nearly $19,000

The School District will pay nearly $18,882 for the legal fees of three officials named in the recently dismissed ethics complaint filed by town Internal Auditor James Henderson.

The district will also seek a supplemental appropriation to recover the money.

Board Chairman Steve Wright, then-Supt. Ralph Iassogna (retired July 1) and Custodial/Maintenance Services Head Steve Kennedy were named in the complaint, and their bills will be paid.

Board member Tom Kelly said the $18,882 could have been spent on textbooks and computers.

"That money was designated for education of students," Kelly said.

Also named were Jim Nugent, chairman of the Trumbull High School Building Committee and Al Barbarotta, a contractor with the school district since 1986.

Details of the complaint are confidential because the Trumbull Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint.

Nugent was not immediately available for comment. But Barbarotta said Tuesday night he would consult his attorney regarding recovering his attorney fees.

Barbarotta is suing First Selectman Tim Herbst, alleging he interfered with a potential contract between his company, AFB Construction, and Trumbull Loves Children, a private company that offers pre-school child care and after-school programs and camps.

Herbst said the deal would have violated the town Ethics Code. Herbst also questions Barbarotta's snow clean up costs between 2011 and 2013.