West Haven City Council Votes 'No Confidence' In Mayor: Reports

West Haven CT

12 April, 2022

10:24 AM

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WEST HAVEN, CT — West Haven City Councilors have unanimously voted "no confidence" in Mayor Nancy Rossi after an audit found the city misspent nearly 80 percent of its federal COVID-19 relief funds, according to reports. In a public meeting Monday night, the 13 city councilors also approved an investigation into the city's spending, NBC Connecticut reported. The vote comes nearly two weeks after an independent audit found that $893,000 of the city's $1.15 million in COVID-19 relief funds "should have been disallowed." In a statement following the audit, Rossi called its results "embarrassing" and said "I understand the outrage from the community, and quite honestly, I am equally outraged." Rossi didn't attend the city council meeting, and according to CT Insider, Chair Peter Massaro said she was out of West Haven that week for an appointment she made "many months ago" relating to continuing learning in accounting (she is a certified public accountant). CT Insider reported that around 150 West Haven residents attended the city council meeting, where several voiced their frustrations. The audit was the latest in West Haven's spending issues: In October 2021, then-State Rep. Michael DiMassa, who worked for West Haven for 12 years, was accused of defrauding the city of over $636,000. Scott Jackson, the city's new finance director, will meet with state officials later this week to decide whether the state should take over the city's finances, according to WTNH. Related: West Haven Misspent Nearly $893K In COVID Relief Funds: AuditRossi 'Outraged' By West Haven's Misspent COVID-19 Relief FundsWest Haven Lawmaker Charged In $630K Fraud Scheme: Feds2 More Charged In West Haven COVID-19 Relief Fraud: Feds