Trumbull Health Director Resigns Following Arrest, Board Vote

TRUMBULL, CT — The town's health director has resigned from his position following his arrest earlier this year and a vote by the Trumbull Health Board to fire him, according to a town official and town meeting minutes.

Tom McCarthy, the town's director of human resources, said in an email Friday evening Sumit Sharma has resigned from his position with the town.

Minutes for the board's meeting held Tuesday night indicate members went into an executive session "to discuss personnel matters" at 6:35 p.m.

When members emerged from the session around 7:15 p.m., they voted unanimously to terminate the contract of the town's current health director, which the town website indicates is Sharma.

Chairperson Nancy Busch also directed McCarthy to begin searching for a new director of health, according to the minutes.

According to the Connecticut Post, McCarthy said Sharma voluntarily resigned Thursday afternoon via email prior to his termination taking effect Friday.

McCarthy also noted in an email Susan Jacozzi will continue in her role as acting director for health for the town of Trumbull during the hiring process.

Requests for comment sent to Busch and Sharma were not immediately returned Friday.

The Connecticut Post reports Sharma was hired to lead the health department in mid-March. That same month, he was arrested after being accused of gaining improper access to the Soundside Music Festival in Bridgeport last fall while he was serving as the city's deputy health director.

CT Post's report cited court documents that indicated Sharma contacted a festival worker prior to the event and claimed he would do "late inspections" at the event and needed access to a VIP area and food and beverage vouchers. Police estimated the total value of the tickets and vouchers to be $4,980.

News 12 Connecticut reports Sharma is accused of falsely claiming a group of people with him at the festival were health inspectors, who were later seen drinking while wearing concert staff wristbands inside the festival's VIP tent.

Sharma, 37, was arrested March 31 and charged with two counts of first-degree larceny by extortion, according to the state's judicial database.

He was released on a promise to appear in court, and a hearing was scheduled for Friday, according to the database.

An attorney listed for Sharma could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

The 2024 Soundside Music Festival was held Sept. 28-29 at Seaside Park and featured musical acts such as Noah Kahan, Norah Jones, Boyz II Men, Fleet Foxes, Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories, Goo Goo Dolls, Teddy Swims, Grace Potter, Jack White, Greta Van Fleet and The War and Treaty, among others.

Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect that Sumit Sharma resigned from his position prior to his termination taking effect.