www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 41
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Former planner says the town ignored sexual harassment
Aresimowicz offers take on close race for 30th House By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
SOUTHINGTON — Democratic House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, who narrowly beat a Republican opponent who entered the race three weeks before election day, pointed out that he was able to gather more support with-
Former Town Planner Hellyn Riggins claims in a federal lawsuit that she left for a job with a city in Tennessee because town officials created a hostile work environment by failing to address sexual harassment by a prominent developer in town. Hellyn Riggins said in the lawsuit, filed Oct. 22, that she accepted a job offer from Eagleville, Tennessee in September 2017 because the town’s failure to take corrective action caused her to suffer extreme emotional distress accompanied by physical symptoms.
See 30th, A0
Tree lighting scheduled for Saturday
The lawsuit claims Thomas Coccomo, owner of Coccomo Brothers LLC in Berlin, repeatedly made false accusations that she had sexual relationships with co-workers at Town Hall. Coccomo, who did not respond to requests for comment, made the allegations in emails to other managerial staff and other employees within Riggins’ department. The lawsuit details emails going back as far as 2013, when Coccomo emailed then Mayor Adam Salina questioning why Riggins had not been fired for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with another town employees. Other emails, sent as recently as September 2017, including allegations of sexual acts with other employees. In the lawsuit, Riggins denied all of the allegations. The lawsuit cites an email Riggins sent to the town’s human resources director on Jan. 20, 2017 stating: “I have been through his abuse for 13 years. I will not tolerate it any longer, and I certainly will not tolerate it for my employees … I am asking that (Coccomo) be told that he can no longer meet with me or with any See Lawsuit, A3
Berlin fire departments have scheduled their annual tree lighting for Saturday, Nov. 24, 3 to 6:30 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus plan to be available for photos from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
Author and Berlin High alumnus Joe Clifford.
Author discusses his journey to recovery By Ajlal N. Khan Special to The Citizen
Author Joe Clifford visited his alma mater, Berlin High School, on Oct. 19 to speak to students about his writing and life’s journey. The author of Junkie Love, a book about his heroin addiction and recovery, Clifford spoke to students mainly about his battle with drugs and how he overcame them. “I know what’s going on in town, with the struggles with pills and
such … I’m not a particularly good guy, but if I can do something to make the world a less horrible place then I’ll try to do it,” Clifford said. After graduating from BHS, Clifford attended Central Connecticut State University for a spell before dropping out and moving to San Francisco with dreams of becoming a rock star. This is when his drug problems See Clifford, A2
The event features free children’s holiday crafts, food trucks and performances by Caroline’s Dance at 4:30 p.m. and Dance Step at 5:30 p.m. The fire departments have also planned a toy and food drive where unwrapped toys, stocking stuffers and/or food donations will be accepted. Donated toys benefit local children. Food donations benefit the local food bank. The fire departments also will have stations for “Fill the Boot,” collecting monetary donations for Berlin veterans. — Press Release