Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

WATERBURY -- Country Club residents met with Mayor Michael J. Jarjura and local legislators Wednesday to demand the politicians help remove a new group home for the mentally retarded at 9 Country Club Woods Circle.

Jarjura and state Representatives Joan V. Hartley, D-15th District, and Anthony J. D'Amelio, R-71st District, sat at the kitchen table of local teacher Carmella DeStefano, who lives next to the group home, and listened to complaints from about 20 people.

These complainants were buoyed by an opinion issued this week by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, concluding an investigation into the siting of the group home that was sparked by the outrage and questions of local residents. In his opinion, Blumenthal faults the state Department of Mental Retardation for not putting the management of the new group home out to a public bidding process.

Instead, the state agency simply handed a contract to New Haven-based HART Inc., which already manages a home on Columbia Boulevard. DMR officials argued that overcrowding problems at the Columbia Boulevard home justified paying for the $315,000 purchase of the Country Club home, and an additional $110,000 worth of renovation of a second home for HART clients.

Blumenthal disagreed, and insisted that the DMR go back and put the creation of the new home back out to bid. Neither Blumenthal, nor DMR Commissioner Peter O'Meara were able to say this week what this might mean for the Country Club home, which has been occupied for about one month.

Country Club residents railed at Hartley and D'Amelio for allowing the home to be occupied before Blumenthal's investigation was finished.

"I don't know why you guys didn't do anything about it before they moved in," said Carl Ianantuoni of 39 Country Club Woods Circle. "I think you guys failed us because now we look like the bad guys."

Hartley and D'Amelio responded that they pushed the investigation with weekly telephone calls, first to the state auditors of public accounts, and then to Blumenthal. Without this prodding, D'Amelio contended, the attorney general may never have issued his ruling.

That earned sour outbursts from a number of residents who have exhaustively researched the issue and spent much time prodding officials with calls and letters.

These opponents renewed their insistence that their fight against the home has nothing to do with its residents, but rather the improper procedure that placed it in their neighborhood -- which is one of the most upscale in the city -- as well as wasted taxpayer dollars.

The legislators and Jarjura promised to attempt a meeting with Blumenthal following the election to discover if the Department of Mental Retardation clients will be moved, and whether or not there will be repercussions for DMR staff who abandoned proper procedure.

"The truth is I have a lot of questions that need clarification, as everyone does," Hartley said.