Per the Valley Sentinel: "The account was used for decades to pay city clerks under a hybrid system that saw them receive flat salaries in addition to a percentage of the fees collected from the public.
It was an antiquated pay system, city officials said, and lacked proper supervision. In December city Aldermen, at the request of new Mayor David Cassetti, restructured the office to pay the clerk solely with a flat salary of $72,000." Sounds like while it probably wasn't written in the job description as her "retirement fund", there was nothing wrong in her assuming it was, and using it as such. And it probably was earning interest for the city, not her (unless she claimed that too?). In any event, like the mayor says in the article, probably better to just get the best deal the city can in this case, correct the situation so it doesn't happen again, and move on, which sounds good to me.

On another note, does anyone know what town/city clerks do that require them to be elected or appointed by a party? Unless they cast a deciding vote or something, it sounds like their jobs could just as easily be handled like most other jobs in town - as a permanent, non-partisan job, not up for renewal every two or four years. This certainly would limit chances for abuse in the office.

Great Point (my2cents) when questioning the need for an election for a TOWN CLERK position. The 3 other towns I have purchased homes in prior to living in Ansonia (a forced Aerospace move -Limited budget and not a town of my choice) those towns would always advertise the job opening to the general public for equal opportunity. From what I am reading Ansonia is only now getting hold of the age old ordinance system and straining it for redundant and archaic language, laws and practices. Briefly reading some old ordinances today proves to me how slow this town has moved. Then again it is a self-portrayal of how the town is reflected just by my depressing visit through the war-torn town center.
Please think modern times ahead when planning your futuristic city for us 30 something’s. I am already contemplating posting out of my position to leave the area.

The clerk election is not unique to Ansonia. There is a PDF online that lists all the town clerks in CT; the vast majority of them have D or R next to them (there are also others that say U or UK, but it doesn't provide an explanation). Not sure if other states have different processes, but it just seems to me to be unnecessary and asking for trouble this way. I've heard that in some towns, they have run unopposed on occasion. When the other party is conceding the position, why bother with politics?

An elected official answers to the voters. An employee does not. Do you want hiring decisions in the hands of a few or given over to the voters. Having lived in Connecticut and elsewhere, I do believe that service is better when the "boss" is elected rather than an employee who may be very, very hard to fire.

I do not know Ms. Battone. I have been told she is a very nice person.
This is what I do know:
1. A clerk is a city employee
2. A city employee is entitled to a private sector pension plan
3. Ms. Battone partakes in the Ansonia pension plan (unrelated to this issue)
4. an individual is not allowed to save for retirement in a tax free account registered under a city tax ID number
5. if you are provided with income, which you choose to save for retirement, you have to report this income on a tax return on a yearly basis

I understand, by the newspaper accounts, that Ms. Battone did not break the law in believing that the money in the account was hers. However, to say to my employer: hey, over the course of 15 years I am going to use your account to hide income for what I want to use for retirement, i.e. an additional, tax free retirement account, from the IRS is not allowed.

When you take a step back from all the reports and actually look at what Ms. Battone was looking to accomplish the only logical conclusion is that the $ belongs to the City. The city provided Ms. Battone with a retirement account AND paid her an annual salary in excess of 70k. This "extra" account was being used as, essentially, an "off shore account." Ms. Battone believed the money to be hers, but did not pay any taxes on it. If you don't pay taxes on money that you claim to be yours, guess what? It isn't yours.

I applaud the city of Ansonia by not backing down. I think they did right by Ms. Battone, and she should be grateful to the City for her continued pension and this additional $100k.

I posted a comment as a guest earlier in the evening, why was it not put on the site????

Is the former Town Clerk expected to pay taxes on this money?

Mrs Bottone was not the first Town Clerk, this system was in place since for over
50+ years. She followed exactly what was done before her. EVERY administration, Democrat AND Republican for the past 50+ years was aware of the process and never changed it. The last administration was in the process of revising the Town Clerk's compensation upon Mrs. Bottone's retirement. Madeline Bottone is a dedicated, respectful and HONEST person. All monies were always accounted for per the state requirements. That cannot be said of the current tax collector, who was an active employee and involved in the TAX OFFICE debacle a few years ago. It's interesting how she is the tax collector and her husband was hired as the Blight Officer and now he was promoted to Assistant Building Inspector, when was that new job created by the current administration and why wasn't it advertised ??? This administration has and is violating Equal Opportunity Laws. How about some Answers ?

Will the retired town clerk pay taxes on the money she receives?

Old Timer: Aside from the fact that 50% (at least) of your job pool is eliminated right off the bat (I'm sure the reality of it is more like 75%)? Well, things like this could be addressed without wondering if they are politically driven...
http://news.yahoo.com/kansas-judges-why-democrat-kept-ballot-163846161--election.html

I'll grant you that a) I'm sure the other party gets oversight and input in most cases, and b) most clerks do a worthy job, but the mere fact that this process exists and is common is disconcerting. Voting should be left for jobs where personal beliefs and decisions are routinely involved. As far as I've seen from their job descriptions, what discretion IS required by clerks is best handled by a non-partisan employee.

Great job! Now, with the same ferocity, hunt down the tax revenue owed the city from the industrial deadbeats who "took the money & ran." Just sayin'

Seems like the city just robbed this women of her retirement.

From what i understand, she did receive a pension from the city.

I agree with Blueheart. No one focuses on the industries that left Ansonia high and dry. So much for the All American Valley! P.S. Save every receipt you have when paying the tax collector. The make mistakes. I learned my lesson and save mine for well over 7 years.

c