Investigation finds violations by former chairman of Metropolitan District Authority

An independent investigation commissioned by the Metropolitan District Authority (MDC) has revealed that William DiBella, former state senator and longtime chairman of the agency, violated its charter and bylaws. The investigation found that DiBella had authorized an outside attorney, James Sandler, to undertake $85,000 worth of legal work, despite being informed by the CEO and legal counsel that there was no budget or need for Sandler's services. Sandler subsequently withdrew the invoices in question. DiBella, who has chaired the MDC since 2001, has declined to comment on the matter.

Exceeding contracted work and disregard for Agency Authority

The investigation discovered that DiBella authorized Sandler to continue work on two projects, namely a land acquisition initiative and a South Meadows trash plant project, beyond the scope of Sandler's contract with the agency in 2021. Furthermore, there was no retainer for Sandler in 2022. Despite claiming a lack of recollection regarding conversations about the work, which were documented in the invoices sent for payment, investigators found that DiBella's actions deviated from the established procedures of the agency.

Shock and intrigue surrounds unauthorized invoices

The CEO of the MDC, Scott Jellison, expressed surprise when Sandler issued invoices for work that exceeded the 2021 contract terms and for work that had not been contracted for at all in 2022. Jellison, however, declined to provide further comment. Pasquale Salemi, a board commissioner from East Hartford, relayed that DiBella had assured him that he would "take care of the funding" and "take care of Jellison shutting down the work." These statements further highlight the unauthorized nature of DiBella's actions.

Recommendations and meeting to address findings

Attorney Patrick McHale, who conducted the investigation, has made a series of recommendations to the MDC in light of the violations. These include empowering the district counsel to retain outside counsel, requiring all legal invoices to be reviewed and approved by the district counsel before payment, mandating that all outside counsel report to the district counsel regardless of the project, and establishing a protocol that necessitates commissioners and staff to consult with the district counsel before engaging outside counsel. The findings of the investigation are expected to be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the MDC commissioners.